Broken Radio No. 1 by the Fatima Mansions
From the Fatima Mansions’ 1990 Viva Dead Ponies album. Written by Cathal Coughlan. No capo.
INTRO
[Amaj7] [Dmaj7] (x4)
VERSE 1
At the [Amaj7] platform’s [Dmaj7] end, where the [Amaj7] crowd grew [Dmaj7] thin
And the [Amaj7] light was [Em] dim [Em7] on our [Dmaj7] shoes
We [Amaj7] sat there so [Dmaj7] tense
Not to [Amaj7] touch though we [Dmaj7] meant to (I think)
[Amaj7] There was [Em] no [Em7] will, no [Bm7] spe [F#m7] ll
To [E6] breach the night and stop the talk
She tossed her hair and home did walk
[D] Broken radi [A] o
[D] Broken radi [A] o
[Bb6] On the day that I was born
There was [C7] no big flash and no great storm
But the [Bb6] man read the news in Dutch and warned
“I’m gonna [C7] play ‘Je T’aime’ on my hunting horn.”
[Bb6] In my cradle I was most impressed
[Dm] So this is what you call [C] success [G]
INTERLUDE
[Am]
VERSE 2
[Amaj7] [Dmaj7] (x2)
Black [Amaj7] Seamus [Dmaj7] cried, “My [Amaj7] shamrock has [Dmaj7] died
And my [Amaj7] father’s gone [Em] back [Em7] to Pe [Dmaj7] ru.”
The [Amaj7] frost-damp [Dmaj7] town wore a [Amaj7] fat-guts [Dmaj7] frown
And the [Amaj7] DJ’s played [Em] Bri [Em7] an Bo [Bm7] [F#m7] rù
The [E6] Sunday’s sticky, home with rain
Sedition never entertained
[D] Broken radi [A] o
[D] Broken radi [A] o
[Bb6] Murder the past and all who sail in it
If the [C7] past is a wreck then all who sail in it
Make me [Bb6] realize it’s time to move on
But [C7] all the ships and the planes have gone
I’m in a [Bb6] savage place with a timid song
[Dm] Mumbled words … [C] maybes [G]
FADE
At the [Amaj7] platform’s [Dmaj7] end, where the [Amaj7] crowd grew [Dmaj7] thin
And the [Amaj7] light was [Em] dim [Em7] on our [Dmaj7] shoes