Originally written by Richard Thompson.
Verse 1:
A
I was 18 when I came to town they called it the summer of love
A E D
Burnin' babies burnin' flags the hawks against the dove
A
I took a job at the steaming way down on Caltrim Street
A E D
Fell in love with a laundry girl that was workin' next to me
A
Brown hair zig-zagged around her face and a look of half surprise
A E D
Like a fox caught in the headlights there was animal in her eyes
A
She said to me can’t you see I’m not the factory kind
A E D
If you don’t take me out of here I’ll lose my mind
Chorus:
Gbm A
She was a rare thing fine as a bee’s wing
Gbm E D
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
Gbm A
She was a lost child, she was runnin’ wild -she said-
Gbm E D
So long as theres no price on love I’ll stay
Bm E D
You wouldn’t want me any other way
Verse 2:
A
We busked around the market towns fruit pickin down in Kent
A E D
We could tinker pots and pans or knives wherever we went
A
We were campin down the Gower, the work was mighty good
A E D
She wouldn’t wait for the harvest, I thought we should
A
I said to her we’ll settle down, get a few acres dug
A E D
With a fire burning in the hearth and babbies on the rug
Gbm E A
She said Oh man you foolish man that surely sounds like hell
D A E D
You might be lord of half the world, you’ll not own me as well
Chorus:
Gbm A
She was a rare thing fine as a bee’s wing
Gbm E D
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
Gbm A
She was a lost child, she was runnin’ wild -she said-
Gbm E D
So long as theres no price on love I’ll stay
Bm E D
You wouldn’t want me any other way
Verse 3:
A
We were drinking more in those days our tempers reached a pitch
A E D
Like a fool I let her run away when she took the rambling itch
A
Last I heard she was living rough back on the Derby beat
A E D
A bottle of White Horse in her pocket, a Wolfhound at her feet
A
They say that she got married once to a man called Romany Brown
A E D
Even a gypsy caravan was too much like settlin’ down
Gbm E A
They say her rose has faded, rough weather and hard booze
D A E D
Maybe thats the price you pay for the chains that you refuse
Chorus:
Gbm A
She was a rare thing, fine as a bee’s wing
Gbm E D
I miss her more than ever words can say
Gbm A
If I could just taste all of her wildness now
Gbm E D
If I could hold her in my arms today
Bm E D
I wouldn’t want her any other way
