Rocking Horse Road
Elvis Costello 

The chains from the bridle and the reins fell from my hands
The engines are idle and the ship sails on dry land
I stood there stupefied, I thought I recognized
Walking down Rocking Horse Road, getting lost
Shot through Vaseline, he picks up the paper from the lawn
And tucks "The Suburban Assassin" underneath his arm
He smiles weakly and turns away
I know you'll never come to harm
Walking down Rocking Horse Road, it's so peaceful

It's like a photograph
From the other side of the world
I said "I want you only"
And then I left you alone
Crying on Rocking Horse Road, or somewhere quite like it

The cemetery gardens, there are names not numbers on the gateposts
And the eyes in the curtain follow you like a smirking ghost
I know I must not look back
'Cause part of me is waiting still

There on Rocking Horse Road for you
In a little dream house made for two
Well you were the one that made your escape
In your stocking feet and your sticky tape

All the way down [repeat to fade]




Rocking Horse Road
Transcribed by Ben Greenstein

 Note: The cool thing about this song is the 'implied melody' over the 
drum part - something very similar to 'The Joker' by Steve Miller Band, 
except in the key of G. There are actually no chords played for most of 
the song, just a bass riff, but I've provided some easy guitar 
 transcription. Enjoy! 

Verse Rhythym - G C D C 
(Listen to record to get it right) 

Verse 1- 
The chains from the bridle and the reins fell from my hands 
 The engines are idle and the ship sails on dry land 

Bridge 1 - 
Em Bm Am Bm C 
I stood there stupefied, I thought I recognized 
C D 
Walking down Rocking Horse Road, getting lost 

Verse 2 - 
Shot through Vaseline, he picks up the paper from the lawn 
 And tucks "The Suburban Assassin" underneath his arm 

Bridge 2 - 
He smiles weakly and turns away - I know you'll never come to harm 
 Walking down Rocking Horse Road, it's so peaceful 

F#m Bm 
It's like a photograph 
F#m Bm 
From the other side of the world 
C D 
I said "I want you only" 
C D 
And then I left you alone 
C D (play verse rythym LOUD) 
Crying on Rocking Horse Road, or somewhere quite like it 

Verse 3 - 
The cemetery gardens, there are names not numbers on the gateposts 
 And the eyes in the curtain follow you like a smirking ghost 

Bridge 3 - 
Em Bm Am Bm C 
I know I must not look back - 'Cause part of me is waiting still 

C 
There on Rocking Horse Road for you 
Am 
In a little dream house made for two 
 C D G C 
Well you were the one that made your escape 
C D G C 
In your stocking feet and your sticky tape 
C D G C 
All the way down [repeat to fade]