INTRO: G Am7 C G 
 
        G 
He said I know this ain't the time or place 
    Am7 
But Lord I need to talk 
     C 
In a business suit in a corner booth 
     G 
In a crowded little restaurant 
G 
We all tried not to listen 
   Am7 
We all tried not to look 
      C 
But a whole room full of customers 
        D 
And the waitress and the cook 
    Em                   C                       G 
All stopped what we were doing when he bowed his head 
        Em               C             D 
In that silence we heard every word he said 


                  G                   C 
CHORUS: I've been trying to do things my way 
        D                   G 
        Down here on life's highway 
        C                G 
        Slippin' slidin' sideways 
                D 
        Between no way and nowhere 
                   G           C 
        If I could only gain a foothold 
        D                Em        D 
        Up there on your high road 
             C              G 
        Lord if you hear me help me 
                C            G 
        I'll do anything you tell me to 
        C               G             
        All I've got to offer you is this 
        D           ( G )  
        Backslider's prayer 
 
INTRO 
 

         G 
Well the waitress made the first move 
         Am7  
When she filled his coffee cup 
         C 
She said you ain't alone here mister 
       G 
You're speaking for the rest of us 
G 
I heard some scattered amens 
      Am7 
And a couple of I've been there's 
     C 
Then things got back to normal 
    D  
The dishes and the silverware 
     Em              C  
Were clanging in the kitchen 
                G 
Like an angel's band 
     Em               C 
As I took my place in line 
             D 
To shake his hand 'cause 
 
CHORUS 
 
SOLO: 
G C D G C G D D 
 
           G           C  
If I could only gain a foothold 
D                Em        D   
Up there on your high road 
     C              G 
Lord if you hear me help me 
        C            G 
I'll do anything you tell me to 
C               G 
All I've got to offer you is this 
D   C        G 
Backslider's prayer 
 
INTRO