This is what I hear. Tom has a way of making you believe he will change chords, and then he doesn´t.

Jan

The Bravest    Tom Paxton

The (G)first plane hit the other tower, right (C)after I came (G)in,
It left a fiery, gaping hole where (D)offices had been.
We (C)stood and watched in (G)horror as we (C)saw the first ones (G)fall,
Then (C)someone yelled, "Get (G)out, get out! They're trying to (A7short)kill us (D)all!"

I (G)grabbed the pictures from my desk and (C)joined the flight for (G)life,
With every step I called the names of my (D)children and my wife.
And (C)then we heard them (G)coming up, from (C)several floors be(G)low,
A (C)crowd of fire(G)fighters with their heavy (A7short)gear in (D)tow.

Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound
Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down. (D)

And (G)when we met them on the stairs, they (C)said we were too (G)slow.
"Get out, get out!" they yelled at us, "The (D)whole thing's gonna go!"
They (C)didn't have to (G)tell us twice, we'd (C)seen the world on (G)fire,
We (C)kept on running (G)down the stairs, while they kept (A7short)climbing (D)higher.

Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound
Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down. (D)

Thank (G)God we made it to the street, we (C)ran through ash and (G)smoke.
I did not know which way to run, I (D)thought that I would choke.
A (C)fireman took me (G)by the arm and he (C)pointed me up(G)town,
Then, (C)"Christ!" I heard him (G)whisper, as the tower came (A7short)roaring (D)down.

So (G)now I go to funerals for (C)men I never (G)knew,
The pipers play "Amazing Grace", as the (D)coffins come in view.
They (C)must have seen it (G)coming when they (C)turned to face the (G)fire,
They (C)sent us down to (G)safety, then they kept on (A7short)climbing (D)higher.

Now (C)every time I (G)try to sleep, I'm (C)haunted by the (G)sound
Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down,
Of firemen pounding up the stairs, while (D)we were running (G)down.

© Tom Paxton, All Rights Reserved

janhauenstein@gmx.de