Frankfurt Cowboy Yodel by Cathal Coughlan
From the Cathal Coughlan’s 2000 Black River Falls album. Written by Cathal Coughlan. No capo.
INTRO
[Am] [Em] [G7] [B7] (x2)
[A] [Ab] [G] [F#7] [F] [E] (x2)
VERSE 1
The [Dm] streets of your girlhood have [Am] vanished
There’s [Dm] only this asphalt you [Em] ride
The [Dm7b5] sleet falls in Little Las [C/G] Vegas
As [Ab6] mules wrapped in tinsel charge [Am] by
VERSE 2
The [Dm] slot arcade greeter is [Am] chanting
[Dm] “Trademark youth culture for [Em] life”
He [Dm7b5] looks out with grief on his [C/G] fifties
As a [Ab6] stopwatch plays “The [D7/F#] Shoes Of The Fisherman’s [G7] Wife”
CHORUS 1
Could this be our [Am] song
The joyous-fearful [F6] one?
The new [F] singer is a numbers man
So [C] most of the words are gone
Can you recall my [Am] name?
I am your dying [F6] day
I am the blackened [F] cave
Where [Em] our [Bbmaj7] polka [Dm] plays
VERSE 3
And [Dm] one night in Swansea I [Am] held you
You were [Dm] frisky from all that MDM [Em] A
The [Dm7b5] talk was of trifles and [C/G] money
You [Eb] passed out and so you were [Bbm6] spared
INTERLUDE
[A] [Dm]
VERSE 4
And [Dm] now for the people’s pro [Am] cession
[Dm] Brass bands tramp the crunchy red [Em] slush
[Dm7b5] Led by the lawyers and their [C/G] children
[Ab6] Stony-faced, well-briefed and [D7/F#] so very [G7] tough
CHORUS 2
But they still play our [Am] song
So they can frown a [F6] long
Hear the [F] Frankfurt cowboy yodel
No [C] deviants can belong
[Am] I have to turn you in
I have to halve my [F6] age
As from the [F] Donbass to Dallas, honey
[Em] Our [Bbmaj7] polka [Dm] plays
CHORUS 3
I am your silent [Am] night
I am your dormant [F6] star
I am the driving [F] rain
I am the [C] turn for home – when your home’s in flames
We are the people’s [Am] lie
We are the people’s [F6] patience test
We are the bitter [F] taste
After a [C] night of pointless textbook sex
CHORUS 4/FADE
Is it [Am] night or day?
Can you re [Dm] call my name?
From the [F] Donbass to [C] Dallas, well
[Am] Our polka [Dm] plays