Half A Century High chords

Phil Ochs

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Simplify chords 

  			


        G         C         G 
In the tube where I was born 
  C               Bm 
I could have sworn 
      C                D 
There was so much to see 
       C                D 
There was so little to be 
             G  C  G 
But I was free 
B7 
World at my command 
Em 
Through the dots I ran 
Am              D                  G 
Looking for a man who looked like me 
Em                    D 
And now it can be told 
      Em                      D 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
         G      F       G  F  G 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was raised 
I was amazed 
On the pictures I would lean 
That went flashing on the screen 
Oh, I was dazed 
But then my eyes were made 
hypnotized insane (?) 
Buried in my brain 
In a blinding blaze 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was grown 
I was alone 
The figure on the floor (Laying on the floor) 
The dream behind the door (I'd lock the closet door) 
The sound was low 
Ballgames on the street 
Disappeared behind my feet 
Out of breath my heart would be 
To see another show 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was made 
I was afraid 
Spinning through the space 
another scene, another face, 
Another shade 
Mirror of my mind 
On electric wheels of wine 
Living on the lines that were displayed 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was fed 
I lost my head 
I watch the lives they led 
Watch them to the end 
And then again 
An open kind of laugh 
I gave all the mind I had 
And whenever I was sad 
I had my friends 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was killed 
I was fulfilled 
Such an easy way to win 
Talking to my twin 
No sign of sin 
the sacrifice was small 
fascination was the fall 
I was extended by the wall that held me in 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was killed 
I was fulfilled 
The lies of light would bend 
I'd stare until the end 
And then again 
Faded and the fad 
I gave all the mind I had 
And whenever I was sad 
I had my friends 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 

In the tube where I was born 
I could have sworn 
There was so much to see 
There was so little to be 
But I was free 
World at my command 
Through the dots I ran 
Looking for a man who looked like me 
And now it can be told 
I'm a quarter of a century old 
But I'm half a century high 
Notes: 

Due to the way this song was done on Tape From California, I could not understand some 
key lyrics. But, thanks to the version on Phil Ochs at Newport, I was able to understand 
those bits. The former version, consists of only verses 1, 3 and 7 The third verse had a  
couple of different lines, the version in parenthesis is from the latter album. Also, on 
the latter version, the word "wise" was used instead of the word "high".