C               Em
In a heavy rain standing
F                 C
Off an old county road
       Am            G        F        C
'Side a high rolling river so swift
C                       Em
There was a hitchhiking stranger
F                   C
Quite pale from the cold
     Am              G            F        C
On a cane, tryin' to thumb down a lift
C                       Em
Well, I pulled up beside him
F                    C
And let my window on down
       Am           F             G
To the rain and the bone-chilling wind
C                    Em
Said "You look awful worn
F                   C
In this late-winter storm
Am                G          F          C
Which way are you headed, my friend?"

[Chorus 1]
F      G         F       C
"Right up to the spotlight
Am                 F        G
Drinkin' all that Coke and gin
C                       Em
And I'll be suit-wearin' man
F               C
With gold in my hand
Am        G            F       C
If today doesn't do me in"

[Interlude]
(same chords as verse)

[Verse 2]
C                    Em
Behind a gas station counter
F                     C
Moving crates full of things
Am                  G         F       C
That looked far too heavy for her
C                        Em
There stood a girl with a frown
F                            C
Said, "Let me just set these down
Am          G              F           C
And I'll be right with you, sir"
C                  Em
I said, "No hurry here
F                         C
Take all the time that you want"
Am                                 F           G
She said, "A little time and you just wait and see
C                     Em
Oh, I'll be without a care
F                  C
When I finally get there"
Am                     G               F           C
I said, "Miss, tell me where might that be"

[Chorus 2]
F      G         F        C
"Right up to the spotlight
Am                F        G
Drinkin' all that Coke and gin
C                          Em
And I'll be a dress-wearin' girl
F                     C
With the heels and the pearls
Am        G           F      C
If today doesn't do me in
Am        G           F      C
If today doesn't do me in"

[Verse 3]
C                            Em
Well, I got a head-full this morning
F                       C
Cuttin' out through the fog
Am                G             F           C
You know, I can't help but wonder what's left
C                     Em
From every road that dead-ends
F                  C
To those old bitter men
Am                G               F          C
Passing time on the old courthouse steps
C                        Em
And there's a feeling you get
F              C
Not far from despair
Am                  F           G
That sometimes sets in on your mind
C                         Em
But if it's all that you've got
F                 C
You still set the clock
Am                G           F             C
And get up with a reason to climb

[Chorus 3]
F     G         F        C
Right up to the spotlight
Am              F           G
Drinking all that coke and gin
C                           Em
And I'll leave these shadows behind
F                  C
For a new peace of mind
Am        G            F           C
If today doesn't do me in
Am        G            F           C
If today doesn't do me in