G                  C9                  G               D
It was the year of our father nineteen hundred and seventy six in JA,
       Am                 C                 G                  D
when I first met my Mary, quite contrary to what my mother did say.
Am         G                     C9                  G                D
She was a mountain girl come to Spanish town, I was only there for a while,
           Am                    C                G                      D
but when I think back on all the love we shared I just can't but help to smile.
         G              D       C9               G            D
We spent one whole long year together and at the end I had to go.
      Am            C                   G                  D
By my Mary's side I wept and cried, I'd never been laid so low.
          G            D         C9             G                D
She said "Boy when you first met me you were as green as a mango tree
      Am                   C                      G                   D
oooo, now you are a man go back to your land, but first listen carefully"


CHORUS:
        G                        C9
you can smoke two pounds of cali herb by yourself
    G                    D
and try to stand on your head
          Am                      C
no matter how high you get you'll never forget
    G          D      G
the wonders of Mary's bed.


       G                      C9             G                   D
Now my Mary's sweet smell was in my nose and vision it robbed me blind.
         Am                   C                    G             D
And as I crossed the sea it occured to me that i'd left myself behind.
           G              C9                        G             D
She was my natural mystic sweet sugar plumb I still ask why did I go
              Am               C                     G                  D
They say your first loves your hardest love, and I'd have to say that's so.
           G                         C9
And it's a day and another day and a way and another way
      G                        D
Had a family once, but they're gone
             Am                         C
And it don't strike me as weird there's grey in my beard
        G                  D
but the words still linger on.