[Verse 1] 
CF Back in the old folky days
AmEmD The air was magic when we played
CF The river boat was rocking in the rain
AmEmD Midnight was the time for the raid
G Oh Isabella, proud Isabella
Am They tore you down and plowed you under
BmC You're only real with your makeup on
GD How could I see you and stay too long
 
CF All along the Navajo Trail
AmEmD burnouts stub their toes on garbage pails
CF Waitresses crying in the rain
AmEmD Will their boyfriends pass this way again?
G Oh Mother Goose, she's on the skids
Am Sure ain't happy, neither are the kids
BmC She needs someone that she can scream at
GD And I'm such a heel for making her feel so bad
 
CF I guess I'll call it sickness gone
AmEmD It's hard to say the meaning to this song
CF An ambulance can only go so fast
AmEmD It's easy to get buried in the past
CF When you try to make a good thing last
AmEmD
G I saw today, in the entertainment section
Am There's room at the top for private detection
BmC To Mom and Dad this just doesn't matter
GD But it's either that or pay off the kidnappers
CF So all you critics sit alone
AmEmD You're no better than me for what you've shown
CF With your stomach pump and your hook and ladder dreams
AmEmD We could get together for some scenes
 [Chorus] 
G I never knew a man could tell so many lies
Am he had a different story for every set of eyes
BmC How can he remember who he's talking to?
GDG (hold) Cause I know it ain't me and I hope it isn't you
 [Verse 2] 
G Well I'm up in T.O. keepin' jive alive
Am and out on the corner it's half past five
BmC But the subways are empty and so are the cafes
GD Except for the Farmer's Market and I can still hear him sayin'
CF "You're all just pissin' in the wind
AmEmD You don't know it but you are"
CF And there ain't nothing like a friend
AmEmD Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind
 [Chorus] 
G I never knew a man could tell so many lies
Am he had a different story for every set of eyes
BmC How can he remember who he's talking to?
GDG (hold)