HOW CAN I HELP YOU SAY GOODBYE
(by Burton Banks Collins & Karen Good Taylor)
(performed by Patty Loveless)
-----------------------------
[Each chord is half a measure, except two measures joined by a hyphen
(e.g., "C - C/E") are a half measure _total_.]

Am7Am7 Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
   Am7Am7 Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 

[intro]

DD Piano Chord 
                  GG Piano Chord 
            FF Piano Chord 
   FF Piano Chord 

Through the back window of our '59 wagon
CC Piano Chord 
                       CC Piano Chord 
             GsusGsus Piano Chord 
      GG Piano Chord 

I watched my best friend Jamie slipping further away
DD Piano Chord 
         GG Piano Chord 
           FF Piano Chord 
          FF Piano Chord 

I kept on waving till I couldn't see her
CC Piano Chord 
                  CC Piano Chord 
           FF Piano Chord 
  -   GG Piano Chord 
        CC Piano Chord 

And through my tears I asked again why we couldn't stay
FF Piano Chord 
              FF Piano Chord 
        GsusGsus Piano Chord 
           GG Piano Chord 

Mama whispered softly, time will ease your pain
FF Piano Chord 
               FF Piano Chord 
               GsusGsus Piano Chord 
          GG Piano Chord 

Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same

CC Piano Chord 
          CC Piano Chord 
          GG Piano Chord 
        CC Piano Chord 

And she said, how can I help you to say goodbye
CC Piano Chord 
        CC Piano Chord 
             GsusGsus Piano Chord 
     GG Piano Chord 

It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry
FF Piano Chord 
           GG Piano Chord 
             CC Piano Chord 
 - C/EC/E Piano Chord 
   FF Piano Chord 
   FF Piano Chord 

Come let me hold you, and I will try
C/GC/G Piano Chord 
       Am7Am7 Piano Chord 
      GsusGsus Piano Chord 
   GG Piano Chord 

How can I help you         to say goodbye

Am7(4)Am7(4) Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
    Am7(4)Am7(4) Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 

[instrumental]

I sat on our bed, he packed his suitcase
I held a picture of our wedding day
His hands were trembling, we both were crying
He kissed me gently, and then he quickly walked away
I called up Mama, she said, time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same

And she said, how can I help you to say goodbye
It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry
Come let me hold you, and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye

Am7(4)Am7(4) Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
   CC Piano Chord 
   CC Piano Chord 
    Am7(4)Am7(4) Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
   CC Piano Chord 
   CC Piano Chord 

[instrumental; lots of strings]
Am7Am7 Piano Chord 
    G/BG/B Piano Chord 
    FF Piano Chord 
 - G/FG/F Piano Chord 
    FF Piano Chord 
    FF Piano Chord 
 - G/FG/F Piano Chord 
    FF Piano Chord 

[instrumental; strings]
GsusGsus Piano Chord 
   GsusGsus Piano Chord 
   GG Piano Chord 
   GG Piano Chord 

[instrumental; strings and an acoustic guitar riff]

Sitting with Mama, alone in her bedroom
She opened her eyes, and then squeezed my hand
She said, I have to go now, my time here is over
And with her final words she tried to help me understand
Mama whispered softly, time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same

And she said, how can I help you to say goodbye
It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry
Come let me hold you, and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye

Am7(4)Am7(4) Piano Chord 
  G/BG/B Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 
  CC Piano Chord 

[instrumental; play 4 times and end on C.]