Intro: G C D C Am D

G
  Teacher had you write a letter, you were eight-years-old
           C
About the man that you'd become and the positions you'd hold
      D                           C              Am                          D
But this was long before you and Jackie Geronimo met in the Prelude Park at midnight
             G
Now when it came to bells and whistles Jackie did not lack
          C
When she kissed on the kisser boy you kissed her back
         D                                  C                        Am                            D
Now you tell her that you love her and she cuts you slack when you drink with your buddies on the weekend.

C                               D
  And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
                 G                 G/F#           Em                    C
You spend your whole life dropping nickels in the bucket, waking up at dawn
       Am                   B7            Em      C
While Jackie bestolled the joys of finger licking
      D                      C     G
The clock upon the wall was tickin'

G
  You got yourself a job cleaning hospital floors
     C
But Jackie had a baby and she had five more
      D                                C                        Am                              D
They pay you just enough to drag your ass to the store to buy bread, milk and Better Homes and Gardens
 G
Jackie flips the pages and she dreams little dreams
   C
A cottage in the country built with real wood beams
           D                         C                    Am                                  D
There's a baby in the bedroom he's starting to scream she holds him though he probably won't remember

C                               D
  And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
            G                   G/F#             Em                      C
Sometimes dreams are all you've got to keep you going when the day gets long
        Am               B7             Em    C
And you gave up so many just to make a living
       D                      C      G
That clock upon the wall was tickin'

         G
Now the kids were all grateful when they left the nest
     C
And Jackie wasn't perfect but she did her best
     D                         C                         Am                                     D
You seized the opportunity to get you some rest but you can't sleep on the count of screaming grandkids
     G
The golden years are meant to leave a gleam in your eye
         C
You're starting to discover it's a great big lie
      D                            C                       Am                                D
They work you like a dog till you quit or you die but you cant quit 'cause Jackie needs the benefits

C                               D
  And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
          G            G/F#            Em                         C
They say patience is a virtue but the doctor says she don't have long
          Am                     B7               Em    C
And you stood up and tried your damn just not to listen
           D                      C      G
But that clock upon the wall was tickin'

           G                                         C
When they told you to clear the room that's when it hit you
     G                                           D
You watched as a caravan took your sweet heart away
    G                                                  C
The arguments and fights and money troubles seemed so worthless
        G                 D             G
As the kids throw yellow roses on her grave

C                               D
  And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
           G      G/F#          Em                        C
House is quiet now everything inside seems to know she's gone
          Am                      B7            Em
There's a picture of you both sixteen-years-old kissing
       D                         C      G
That clock upon the wall... was tickin'

Solo 2x: G C D C Am D

             G
You always thought you'd had a chance, but it was somewhere hid
         C                                     D   C Am
Now you come to the conclusion that you never did
                 D
(Have a chance, now)

Final: G C D C Am D G