Bm                    E
The children sat upon the stairs
 A     D      A         D       
High above a valley of tears 
 Bm                     E           A     D
Don't let them see you crying that way oh no 

Bm         E
Oh no Joe Porterhouse
A              D
Is not gone forever
          A            D
He'll be back another day
 Bm                     E           A
Don't let them see you crying that way

Chorus:
  D               D/G D/F# D/G  D
Please don't wake him let him sleep
D         D/G D/F# D/G D
It's a moment she can keep
 D           D/G D/F#  D/G D      Am
Like an old bus tick - et  or a photograph
 D              D/G  D/F#   D/G
Resting on the man - tle - piece 
       D               D/G D/F# D/G D
While for the wicked there is   no peace 
     D
She says it's not his time to go 
                           Am        Am Bm C
Why we were nearly lovers years ago
 Am  Bm      C       A
Now what is left for me 
  D         Em   Fm       D       G       G F# Em
Among the broken branches of the family tree 

A D

Heart like an anchor 
Arms like cable 
He stood all alone on an iron turntable 
Don't let them see you crying that way oh no 
The sun beats down 
It's cracking the flags 
Boys who should know better 
Are stamping out fags 
Don't let them see you laughing that way

Chorus 

Oh no Joe Porterhouse 
Is not gone forever 
He'll be back another day
Don't let them see you crying that way 

A B Am(/C) (repeat and fade)