[Intro]
E Am E
Un deux trois quatre Cinq six sept huit neuf
E G D9
Un deux trois quatre Cinq six sept huit neuf
E Am B
One two three four five six seven eight nine!
[Verse]
C#m E/B
My dearest, Angelica “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day”
C#m/F# A Ab/C
I trust you’ll understand the reference to Another Scottish tragedy without my having to name the play
C#m E/B
They think me Macbeth, and ambition is my folly I’m a polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive pain
C#m/F# C#m/A Ab/C
Madison is Banquo, Jefferson’s Macduff And Birnam Wood is Congress on its way to Dunsinane
C#m E/B
And there you are, an ocean away Do you have to live an ocean away?
C#m/F# C#m/A Ab
Thoughts of you subside Then I get another letter I cannot put the notion away…
[Chorus]
E
Take a break I (am on my way) There’s a little surprise before supper And it cannot
B
Wait (I’ll be there in just a minute, save my plate) Alexander— Okay, okay—
E/C#
Your son is nine years old today And he has something that he’d like to say
E/F# F#
He’s been practicing all day Philip, take it away—
[Verse]
N.C.
Daddy, daddy, look—
My name is Philip
I am a poet
I wrote this poem just
To show it
And I just turned nine
You can write rhymes
But you can’t write mine
E
I practice French And play piano with my mother I have a sister, but I want a little brother
B
My daddy’s trying to start America’s bank, Un deux trois quatre cinq!
[Chorus]
E
Take a break Hey, our kid is pretty great, Run away with us for the summer Let’s go
B
Upstate Eliza, I’ve got so much on my plate We can all go stay with my father
E/C# E/F# F#
There’s a lake I know…In a nearby park You and I can go when the night gets dark… I will try to get away
[Verse]
C#m E/B
My dearest Alexander You must get through to Jefferson Sit down with him and compromise
C#m/F# C#m/A
Don’t stop ‘til you agree Your fav’rite older sister Angelica, reminds you
Ab/C
There’s someone in your corner all the way across the sea
C#m E/B
In a letter I received from you two weeks ago I noticed a comma in the middle of a phrase
C#m/F# C#m/A Ab/C
It changed the meaning. Did you intend this? One stroke and you’ve consumed my waking days It says:
C#m E9/B
“My dearest Angelica” with a comma after “dearest.” You’ve written
C#m9/Ab C#m/A Ab/C
“My dearest, Angelica.” Anyway, all this to say
C#m E/B
I’m coming home this summer At my sister’s invitation I’ll be there with your fam’ly
C#m/F# C#m/A
If you make your way upstate I know you’re very busy I know your work’s important
Ab/C
But I’m crossing the ocean and I just can’t wait
C#m E/B
You won’t be an ocean away You will only be a moment away…
C#m7/F# F#m9/A F#m/B B
Alexander, come downstairs. Angelica’s arriving today!
C#m E9/B
Angelica! Eliza! The Schuyler sisters!
C#m9/Ab C#m/A
Alexander It’s good to see your face
C#m E9/B
Angelica, tell this man John Adams spends the summer with his family
C#m9/Ab C#m/A
Angelica, tell my wife John Adams doesn’t have a real job anyway
C#m E9/B
You’re not joining us? Wait I’m afraid I cannot join you upstate
C#m9/Ab C#m/A
Alexander, I came all this way
B
She came all this way—All this way—
[Chorus]
E
Take a break You know I have to get my plan through Congress Run away with us for the summer Let’s go
B
Upstate I lose my job if I don’t get my plan through Congress We can all go stay with our father
E/C# E/F#
There’s a lake I know In a nearby park You and I can go
F
Take a break and get away-Run away with us for the summer let's go
C
Upstate Where we can stay we can always stay with my father
F/D
If you take your time, you will make your mark
F/G
Close your eyes and dream—
G
When the night gets dark Take a break.
Fm Bbm Fm Bbm
I have to get my plan through Congress
Fm Bbm Fm C7
I can’t stop until I get this plan through Congress
Fm7 Fm7/Eb Fm7/Db