F                                  C
The town I came from was quiet and small
C                                                F
we played in the meadows where the grass grew so tall
F                                    C
in summer the lilacs would grow everywhere
C                                           F
the laughter of children would float in the air

[Verse 2]
F                        C
As I grew older I had to roam
C                               F
far from my family, far from my home
F                                 C
into the city, where lives can be spent
C                                F
lost in the shadows of tar and cement.
F                             C
In to the city where I had my eye
C                                   F
on all the pleasures that money can buy

[Chorus]
F         Dm
Yet I can see it all so clearly now
Dm          F
still goin' o-o-o-on
F          Dm
Yes, I can see it oh so clearly now
Dm          F
still goin' o-o-o-on

[Verse 3]
F                                    C
Each day I'd wake up and look at the sky
C                                      F
I think of the meadows where I used to lie
F                             C
then I'd remember all that is gone
C                                   F
you're in the city, you better push on
F                                      C
get what you came for, before it's too late
C                                      F
get what you came for, the meadows can wait.

[Chorus]
F        Dm
So every night I'd sit alone and learn
Dm              F
what loneliness me-e-e-eant
F        Dm
up in my rented room above a world
Dm           F
of tar and ceme-e-e-ent.

[Verse 4]
F                          C
Many years later, tired at last
C                                F
I headed for home to look for my past
F                                        C
I looked for the meadows, there wasn't a trace
C                                    F
six lanes of highway had taken their place
F                                       C
where were the lilacs and all that they meant
C                              F
nothing but acres of tar and cement.


[Chorus]
F         Dm
Yet I can see it all so clearly now
Dm                  F
'Though all of it's go-o-one?
F         Dm
Yes I can see it all so clearly now
Dm           F
where has it go-o-one?
F                       Dm
Where are the meadows? (tar and cement)
F                      Dm
Where are the lilacs? (tar and cement)
F                          Dm
The laughter of children? (tar and cement)
F                  Dm
Nothing but acres (tar and cement)
F                         Dm
where is the tall grass? (tar and cement)