The Visit, by Joe Garland

Capo 1: D A Bm G Bm A G A (Piano: Eb Bb Cm Ab Cm Bb Ab Bb)

D
She saw the last streaks of sunshine
A
As she boarded the train.
Bm
By the time she had departed
G
The streaks had become of rain
Bm
The stations passed went quickly by
A
Each nothing but a blur
G
She thought of things that would never be
A
And things that never were

D
After some hours the car’s lights had dimmed
A
And she dozed in time with its sway
Bm
It wasn’t quite sleep and she’d jolt awake
G
Until exhaustion carried her away
Bm
Her sleep was shallow and restless
A
Then a flash of sun struck her eye
G
She stirred, not yet awake
A
An orange dawn in the new sky

Chorus:
C D G C/C D G
(Piano: Db Eb Ab Db/Db Eb Ab)
C            D              G                   C
It took longer than is she simply flew
C                  D                     G
She liked to feel the train’s sway
C            D             G                     C
It took longer as such trips often do
C                     D                              G
She liked the solitude of going that way

D
And again she felt the rocking beat
A
Of the train continuing west
Bm
She remained spent and drowsy
G
After her brief and fitful rest
Bm
She hadn’t seen him in many years
A
Since he said he disapproved
G
Of what she was and who she was
A
She thought him an ignorant fool

D
They said he’d had a conversion
A
That he finally understood
Bm
He wanted her to come to him
G
He couldn’t come to her
Bm
So she thought on that train
A
As the towns went flashing by
G
Why some folks can’t see the truth
A
Until they’re about to die

D
She tidied up in the bathroom
A
Saw the bags below each eye
Bm
A bit of water and she was wide awake
G
She hadn’t realized she’d cried
Bm
Her brother picked up at the station
A
About a quarter past noon
G
They drove quietly to the house
A
She didn’t want to get there too soon

D
She never knew if he saw her
A
Perhaps it was just as well
Bm
She was shocked when she saw him
G
He’d become a hollow shell
Bm
There was laughter in the hallway
A
As her sister told a joke
G
She looked at her for a moment
A
And suddenly he spoke

Bridge:
C#m [Dm]                             G#m [Am]
It was then she saw the old  pastor
B [C]                            E [F]
She ignored him as he past her
C#m [Dm]                        Gb [G]                 B [C]
He and her father had judged her long ago
C#m [Dm]                    G#m [Am]
The room was bright, the air was still
B [C]                            E [F]
Old photos lined the window will
C#m [Dm]                        Gb [G]          B [C]
Happy times to those who didn’t know

D
She couldn’t quite make out
A
What he tried to say
Bm
His eyes flashed his hatred though
G
She knew she couldn’t stay
Bm
She told the others she’d seen enough
A
That he was still the same
G
As he was when they last met
A
When he said he was sorry she had his name

D
By four she was back aboard
A
The Amtrak heading east
Bm
She wasn’t sorry that she’d come
G
He hadn’t changed in the least
Bm
It was a reddish sunset
A
There’d be no rain that night
G
She slept deeply and soundly
A
Until being awaken by the next dawn’s light.

CHORUS