I finally figured this out right...the version I've been sending out for the
past couple years was really lame.  Sorry.

I was only able to properly figure this out by recording it on a Macintosh
and then slowing it down to half-speed with SoundEdit!  'Twas a royal PAIN,
so I hope everyone appreciates it. :)

By the way, this is transcribed from _One_Fair_Summer_Evening_.  I don't
know if the studio version is any different...

Adam



LOVE AT THE FIVE AND DIME (Nanci Griffith)
------------------------------------------
[Open G tuning (DGDGBD).  Capo 3.]
[For the verses, see the tab at the end.  For the chorus, I'm not sure
 exactly how to finger the chords.  I think it might be like this:
 G=000000, Am7=x22012, Am7(4)=x20012.]

G                          Gsus2
   Rita was sixteen years, hazel eyes and chestnut hair
C/G                                            G
   She really made the Woolworth counter shine
G                             Gsus2
   Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer
C                                               G
   They'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime

Eddie played the steel guitar, and his mama cried cuz he played in the bars
And kept young Rita out late at night
So they married up in Abilene, lost a child in Tennessee
Still that love survived, 'cause they'd sing

G                              Am7
   Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now
G                            Am7(4)
   Dance a little closer tonight
G                              Am7
   Dance a little closer to me, 'cause it's closing time
        Am7(4)                                  G
   And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

One of the boys in Eddie's band took a shine to Rita's hands
So Eddie ran off with the bass man's wife
Oh but he was back by June, singin' a different tune
And sportin' miss Rita back by is side.  And he sang...

Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me, 'cause it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

Eddie traveled with the barroom bands till arthritis took his hands
Now he sells insurance on the side
Rita's got a house to keep, dimestore novels and a love so sweet
They dance to the radio late at night.  And they sing:

Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me, hey it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

Rita was sixteen years, hazel eyes and chestnut hair
She really made the Woolworth counter shine
Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer
And they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime...



TAB:

[Don't forget to tune your guitar to open G.]
[The 12 on the middle D string at the end of the sixth measure is
 optional; sometimes she plays it, sometimes she doesn't.]

  G                              Gsus2
D ----------------|----------------|--------------12|----------------|
B ------12------12|------12--------|--10------10----|----------------|
G ----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --9-------9-----|--9-------9---12|------12--------|----------------|
G 0-------0-------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|
D ----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .

  C/G                            G
D ----------------|----------------|--------------12|----------------|
B ------8-------10|------8---------|----------0-----|----------------|
G --9-------9-----|--9-------9-----|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D ----10------10--|----10--------12|----------------|----------------|
G 0-------0-------|0-------0---0---|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|
D ----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .