G                  C     G               C
Coming through the filter, sweet upon my lips
Am                 Em        Am              Em
The smoke mollifies the lung into which it rips
G            C       G           Em  C
 In a sunlit tavern, in a corner booth
Am              Em    Am                Em
Sucking stale popcorn, there i met dear ruth
C                        G     C                 Em  Am
She'd only just lost the baby, seven months and a week
                   Em      Am               Em
Drank a month of seagrams, kissed me on the cheek

F                      D7 Am
Never would've been my style
F                         D7 Am
But i could spot it from a mile
F                             D7 Am
That it would mean a world of good
F                        D7  Am
If we got friendly for a while
Am         G
Oh, what a dear
             C          G
My dear girl might have been

( Em    G F G C Em G )

                  C
In my nine dollar room
G                    C
There was nothing on tv
Am                               Em
She asked if she could use my toothbrush
Am               Em
"it don't bother me"
G                     C      G                    C
"i thank you for the company," she most solemnly said
Am                    Em
When i woke the next morning
Am                      Em
She had fallen from the bed
F                        D7 Am
Quite a sight, i have to say
F                          D7 Am D7
Where once had blossomed a bouquet
F                        Am D7
Now all but wilting like a leaf
F                        D7
 In the ruthless light of day
C          G
Oh, what a dear
             C     G
My dear girl might have been

Ruth, sweet girl
F                    C
There's no place for you
C                 C
Here in my little nine dollar room