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Date: 12/11/98; 8:36:43 AM
From: Jack Kelsey 
Subject: Song Submittal

Honky-Tonk America
by Sammy Kershaw)

This song brings back many fond memories of my home town (Endicott,
NY)which is a factory town, and the friends and family I left behind
everytime I hear or play it.  Its a great song and hope you enjoy it as
much as I do - Thanks Sammy!

This song has been formatted in "Courier New" text.  A C9 chord has been
interchanged with the full C chord throughout the song, in some places
for the sound and in others to smooth the chord transition.  Also in an
attempt to match the recording I interchange between a full G chord,
referenced as "G" and the standard G chord referenced as "G*".  This key
should match the recording.  I personally capo the 2nd fret to put it in
a more comfortable singing range.  I encourage you to experiment and let
me know if anything needs to be changed.

Chords:  G - 320033   G* - 320003   C9 - x32033   C - 332010   D -
200232
                                                                  (T)
         Dsus - 200233  (easier to hold a D chord and drop 4th finger to
the
               (T)          3rd fret of the first string)
Intro.:
d  d  d u    d u   d  u   d  u  d  u
G  G  D-Dsus-D-C9  C9-C9  C9-C9-C9-C9  (twice)

(d = down stroke, u = up stroke, "-" = play chords in quick succession)

G
Well the day it ends when the sun comes up,
C9                       D
Starts when the sun goes down.
G
Out on the back roads and on the back streets,
         C9               D
Of every farm and factory town.
C9                    G             G*               G         C
There in the world of weekly wage.  There's always a place out there.
        G             D             C9        D
And the names and the faces are the same everywhere.

         G                   C9  G  G*
Well the room is full it's a Friday night
G*             D           C9
We all want to hear "Louey-Louey".
       G                   C9   G    G*
Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
G*              D          C9
And this is how we make it through it.
       C                   D
It's a blue-collar place,  A red-blooded crowd,
G            D          C9      G        D    C9     (repeat intro.)
Tonight everythings all right,  In Honky-tonk America.

G
There's a flashing sign on rain soaked street,
     C9                   D
That lights up just about dark.
G
A welcome beacon on life's highway,
          C9                         D
When your weary and when you've lost heart.
C9             G            G*            G              C
Never say it's loneliness,  It's only the drinks and the pain.
    G         D              C9             D
But something brings us back here again and again.

        G                    C9  G  G*
Well the room is full it's a Friday night
G*             D           C9
We all want to hear "Proud Mary".
       G                   C9   G    G*
Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
G*              D          C9
We all have our crosses to carry.
       C                   D
It's a blue-collar place,  A red-blooded crowd,
G            D          C9      G        D    C9      (repeat intro.)
Tonight everythings all right,  In Honky-tonk America.


Refrain
C                D
We'll talk about freedom alright,
G         D          C                   G             D
But maybe some other time.  Tonight everybodys feelin' fine.


        G                    C9  G  G*
Well the room is full it's a Friday night
G*             D            C9
We all want to hear "Wooley-Bully".
       G                   C9   G    G*
Been a long hard day and a long hard life,
G*                   D          C9
Monday morning we'll all do our duty.
       C                   D
It's a blue-collar place,  A red-blooded crowd,
G            D          C9
Tonight everythings all right,
G        D    C9        G        D    C9     G        D    C9
In Honky-tonk America,  Honky-tonk America,  Honky-tonk America.

(repeat intro. and end)

Transcribed by Jack M. Kelsey
jtkelsey@cstone.net
jkelsey@albemarle.org