Sammy Kershaw - Honky Tonk America

      
 
 by Sammy Kershaw)
 
 This song brings back many fond memories of my home town (Endicott,
 NY)which is a factory town, and the friends and family I left behind
 everytime I hear or play it. Its a great song and hope you enjoy it as
 much as I do - Thanks Sammy!
 
 This song has been formatted in "Courier New" text. A C9 chord has been
 interchanged with the full C chord throughout the song, in some places
 for the sound and in others to smooth the chord transition. Also in an
 attempt to match the recording I interchange between a full G chord,
 referenced as "G" and the standard G chord referenced as "G*". This key
 should match the recording. I personally capo the 2nd fret to put it in
 a more comfortable singing range. I encourage you to experiment and let
 me know if anything needs to be changed.
 
 Chords: G - 320033 G* - 320003 C9 - x32033 C - 332010 D -
 200232
 (T)
 Dsus - 200233 (easier to hold a D chord and drop 4th finger to
 the
 (T) 3rd fret of the first string)
 Intro.:
 d d d u d u d u d u d u 
             

 G G D-Dsus-D-C9 C9-C9 C9-C9-C9-C9 (twice)
 

 
 (d = down stroke, u = up stroke, "-" = play chords in quick succession)
 
 G                                          
 Well the day it ends when the sun comes up,
 C9                       D    
 Starts when the sun goes down.
 G                                             
 Out on the back roads and on the back streets,
          C9               D    
 Of every farm and factory town.
 C9 G G* G C
 There in the world of weekly wage. There's always a place out there.
         G             D             C9        D     
 And the names and the faces are the same everywhere.
 
 G C9 G G*
 Well the room is full it's a Friday night
 G* D C9
 We all want to hear "Louey-Louey".
 G C9 G G*
 Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
 G* D C9
 And this is how we make it through it.
        C                  D                   
 It's a blue-collar place, A red-blooded crowd,
 G D C9 G D C9 (repeat intro.)
 Tonight everythings all right, In Honky-tonk America.
 
 G                                             
 There's a flashing sign on rain soaked street,
      C9                   D    
 That lights up just about dark.
 G                                  
 A welcome beacon on life's highway,
           C9                         D     
 When your weary and when you've lost heart.
 C9 G G* G C
 Never say it's loneliness, It's only the drinks and the pain.
     G         D              C9             D     
 But something brings us back here again and again.
 
 G C9 G G*
 Well the room is full it's a Friday night
 G* D C9
 We all want to hear "Proud Mary".
 G C9 G G*
 Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
 G* D C9
 We all have our crosses to carry.
        C                  D                   
 It's a blue-collar place, A red-blooded crowd,
 G D C9 G D C9 (repeat intro.)
 Tonight everythings all right, In Honky-tonk America.
 
 Refrain
 C                D               
 We'll talk about freedom alright,
 G         D          C                  G             D    
 But maybe some other time. Tonight everybodys feelin' fine.
 
 G C9 G G*
 Well the room is full it's a Friday night
 G* D C9
 We all want to hear "Wooley-Bully".
 G C9 G G*
 Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
 G* D C9
 Monday morning we'll all do our duty.
        C                  D                   
 It's a blue-collar place, A red-blooded crowd,
 G            D          C9    
 Tonight everythings all right,
 G        D    C9       G        D    C9    G        D    C9   
 In Honky-tonk America, Honky-tonk America, Honky-tonk America.
 
 (repeat intro. and end)
 
 Transcribed by Jack M. Kelsey
 jtkelsey@cstone.net
 jkelsey@albemarle.org