C
When I was a young man, I ran away from home
  Dm                      (Dm riff)
I went to join the circus
                F            G
Went to see the cotton candy whirl
                    C    C/B    Am
And make me lots of money on my own
    C       C/B  Am
For Molly, oh my pretty Molly
          F          C
But she's waiting all alone
F            C      F    G   C  Cmaj7
Someday soon I will return to her

C
Then I made the big time, Bright lights show biz!
     Dm                  (Dm riff)
I'm really in the circus!
             F         G
There's only one thing wrong;
                  C     C/B   Am
I haven't saved a penny on my own
    C       C/B  Am
For Molly, oh my pretty Molly
          F           C
But she's writing every day
F        C         F    G C Cmaj7
Molly understands so it's okay

(This section isn't entirely accurate to John Denver's version but it sounds fine)
Cm
Ride a windy box car
                        Em
See a thousand children young and old
Dm
Oh that grease paint smile
    Am
Can hide your soul
Cm
Here comes a carrousel

Guess which town it is
 Em
Feel the thrill!
Dm
Grease paint covers everything
     F
But winter's chill

( C  Dm  F  G  C  C/B  Am  C  C/B  Am  F  C  F  C  Cmaj7 )

(Slowly)

     Dm                   (Dm riff)
I'm reading Molly's letter
           F
The ink is fading
G                       C
And the page is turning yellow
C/B   Am   C              C/B  Am
Long ago I promised Molly
               F   C
Don't you know I
F               C        F  G  C   Cmaj7 C
I will close my eyes and go to her

 Dm
E|-------------|
B|-------------|
G|-------------|
D|-0--3--2--0--|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|