G
I was once a broken man
      C
I was once a broken fool
D
Lost my wife and children
       C            G
To one basic broken rule
G
Now I live my life in silence
           C
Though I'm not quite in a shell
  D
I drink and listen to that song
C                  G
"A Whiter Shade of Pale"
      C               G
Oh, a whiter shade of pale


[Verse 1]
G
I was a good shade tree mechanic
     C
So I sent myself to school
     D
They smoothed out my rough edges
      C                  G
In my hands they put new tools
G
The instructor once he told me
        C
I could work on any line
        D
I could tune and make a diesel sing
C               G
Just like Patsy Cline
    C               G
Oh, just like Patsy Cline


[Verse 2]
G
Well, I met my wife to be
           C
Through my mother's best friend's son
      D
She'd been a barroom singer
           C           G
She was as good as any-one
G
But I asked her to stop singing
        C
And the girl she did not flinch
     D
Next day she went and bought that man
  C                  G
A brand new crescent wrench
      C                  G
Oh, a brand new crescent wrench


[Verse 3]
G
Well, we had three fine children
   C
As eight years went on by
  D
I learned to supervise a line
   C                    G
My knuckles stayed bone dry
G
But after supper I kept hearing her
       C
By the kitchen radio
        D
Singing sweet but desperate harmony
  C              G
A little bit too low
      C              G
Oh, a little bit too low


[Verse 4]
G
She left three months later
    C
I'd just come home for lunch
    D
The note said "easy come, hard go
    C              G
But still love you much"
G
She said, "I don't know if I'll be back
             C
Or if you'll want me if I come
    D
But if and when that happens, dear
           C                  G
You better let my sweet dream run
    C                  G
Oh, let my sweet dream run"


[Verse 1B]
G
I was a good shade tree mechanic
     C
So I sent myself to school
     D
They smoothed out my rough edges
      C                  G
In my hands they put new tools
G
The instructor once he told me
        C
I could work on any line
           D
But now my diesels aren't the only thing
     C               G
That sing like Patsy Cline
    C               G
Oh, just like Patsy Cline


[Chorus]
G
I was once a broken man
      C
I was once a broken fool
D
Lost my wife and children
       C            G
To one basic broken rule
G
Now I live my life in silence
           C
Though I'm not quite in a shell
  D
I drink and listen to that song
C                  G
"A Whiter Shade of Pale"
      C               G
Oh, a whiter shade of pale