The killing of Georgie (Part I & II)    (video)

 

   G - Bm - C - G (2x)

 

    G                                                 Bm

1. In these days of changing ways, so called liberated days,

         C                                                    G

    a story comes to mind of a friend of mine.

        G                                          - Bm

    Georgie boy was gay, I guess,        nothing more or nothing less,

C                                        G  

    the kindest guy I ever knew.

 

             G                                          Bm

2. His mother’s tears fell in vain, the afternoon George tried to explain,

      C                                               G

    that he needed love like all the rest.

     G                                                  Bm

    Pa said there must be a mistake, how can my son not be straight,

     C                                              G

    after all I’ve said and done for him.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G

 

      G                                                      Bm

3. Leaving home on a Greyhound bus, cast out by the ones he loves,

        C                                          G

    a victim of these gay days, it seems.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G

 

       G                                                  Bm

4. Georgie went to New York town, where he quickly settled down,

              C                                                               G

    and soon became the toast of the great white way.

          G                                            Bm

    Accepted by Manhattan’s elite in all the places that were chic,

           C                                                 G

    no party was complete without George.

       G                                                      Bm

    Along the boulevards he’d cruise and all the old queens blew a fuse,

     C                                       G

    everybody loved Georgie boy.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G

 

            G                                                Bm

5. The last time I saw George alive was in the summer of seventy-five,

           C                                               G

    he said he was in love, I said I’m pleased.

       G                                                  Bm 

    George attended the opening night of another Broadway hype,

             C                                        G

    but split before the final curtain fell.

         G                                                Bm

    Deciding to take a short cut home, arm in arm they meant no wrong,

         C                                                    G

    a gentle breeze blew down Fifth Avenue.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G

 

      G

6. Out of a darkened side street came

         Bm

    a New Jersey gang with just one aim,

         C                                       G

    to roll some innocent passer-by.

        G                                           Bm

    There ensued a fearful fight, screams rang out in the night,

        C                                                      G

    Georgie’s head hit a sidewalk cornerstone.

 

         G                                                    Bm

7. A leather kid, a switchblade knife, he did not intend to take his life,

                 C                                                    G

    he just pushed his luck a little too far that night.

             G

    The sight of blood dispersed the gang,

        Bm

    a crowd gathered, the police came,

          C                                                             G

    an ambulance screamed to a halt on Fifty-third and Third.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G

 

        G                                    - Bm

8. Georgie’s life ended there,           but I ask who really cares,

        C                                              G

    George once said to me, and I quote.

                      G                                Bm

    He said: “Never wait or hesitate, get in, kid, before it’s too late,

      C                                           G

    you may never get another chance.

                   G                                            - Bm

    ‘Cause youth’s a mask, but it don’t last,        live it long and live it fast.”

C                                          G

    Georgie was a friend of mine.

 

+  G - Bm - C - G (2x)      - - - - -      - C

 

                     Dm   - G                    C

Oh, Georgie stay,         don't go away,

                           Dm   - G                                      C

Georgie, please stay,        you take our breath away.

 

+  repeat the last two lines  (2x) ...

 

 

(orig. = capo 3rd)    (Rod Stewart)