"It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career"
Track #1 on The Boy With the Arab Strap (1998)
Belle & Sebastian
Capo 4th fret
C/G F
He had a stroke at the age of 24
F C/G
It could have been a brilliant career
Am Em F
Painting lines in a school that was too well known
Am Em F
Painting lines with a friend that had gone before
F D/F# G
She challenged everyone to a fight
F C G
But the people all backed down
F C G
And they ran her out of town
F C G
Because she drank and swore and spoke
F C D
Out of turn, she was the village joke
C/G F
She had a stroke at the age of 24
F C/G
It could have been a brilliant career
Am Em F
Getting clients to finance her strategies
Am Em F
She's filling time in on Safeways on Saturday
F D/F# G
She wears the clothes of an emperor
F C G
But her paintings are a sham
F C G
And they're going for a grand
F C G
When the dealers come to view
F C D
Do they ever see the real you?
C/G F
He had a stroke at the age of 24
F C/G
It could have been a brilliant career
Am Em F
Selling lies to the boys with the old Dansettes
Am Em F
Pulling the wool, playing the fool, it's no wonder that
F D/F# G
He is dribbling spit tonight
F C G
And the one he sent away
F C G
Was the only one who stayed
F C G
With a spoon and a decent book
F C G
And you can tell by the way she looks
F C G
He is sorry and resigned
F C D
As he wets himself for the final time
