Original song key is F# (tune your guitar down a half step to match)
Original song is also in open-tuning; this music is transposed to resemble standard-tuning chords.
Tablature written on behalf of Wendy Coup - happy 60th birthday!
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[Intro]
D D D D
C C C C
Bm Bm Bm Bm
C C C C
[Pre-verse]
G Gmaj7 G6 G6
G Gmaj7 G6 G6
[Verse 1]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
So you rode from the range where your brothers select
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Through the ghostly grey bush in the dawn
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
You rode slowly at first lest her heart should suspect
G C
That you were so glad to be gone
[Verse 2]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
You had scarcely the courage to glance back at her
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
By the homestead receding from view
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
And you breathed with relief as you rounded the spur
G C
For the world was a wide world to you
[Chorus]
C G
Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain
C G
Fond heart that is ever more true
C Bm
Firm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain
C G
She'll wait by the sliprails for you
[Pre-verse]
G Gmaj7 G6 G6
G Gmaj7 G6 G6
[Verse 3]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Ah the world is a new and a wide one to you
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
But the world to your sweetheart is shut
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
For a change never comes to the lonely bush girl
G C
From the stockyard the bush and the hut
[Verse 4]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
And the only relief from its dullness she feels
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Is when ridges grow softened and dim
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
And away in the dusk to the sliprails she steals
G C
To dream of past meetings with you
[Chorus]
C G
Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain
C G
Fond heart that is ever more true
C Bm
Firm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain
C G
She'll wait by the sliprails for you
[Instrumental]
G G C C
G G Em Em
G G C C
G G Em Em
[Verse 5]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Do you think where in place of bare fences dry creeks
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Clear streams and green hedges are seen
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Where the girls have lily and rose in their cheeks
G C
And the grass in midsummer is green
[Verse 6]
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Do you think now and then now or then in the whirl
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Of the city while London is new
G G6 Gmaj7 G6
Of the hut in the bush and the freckled-face girl
G C
Who is eating her heart out for you
[Chorus]
C G
Grey eyes that grow sadder than sunset or rain
C G
Fond heart that is ever more true
C Bm
Firm faith that grows firmer for watching in vain
C G
She'll wait by the sliprails for you
[Chorus]
C G
Those grey eyes that are sadder than sunset or rain
C G
Bruised heart that is ever more true
C Bm
Fond faith that is firmer for trusting in vain
C Bm
She waits by the sliprails for you
[Coda]
C Bm
She waits by the sliprails for you
C G C
Waits by the sliprails for you
G
Just for you