I’ve just got off the chain    (intro)

 

    C - F - G - C   - F - G - C

 

            C                                        F

1. I've never been away mysel' before in all my life,

            G                                C                       G

    I've never had a holiday away without my wife.

                    C                                          F

    And I've never felt so happy and I've never been so free,

                  F                       C                    G                                 C

    I would give a gold and silver cup to know what's wrong with me.

 

(Patter : )

I would I'd give, well, you know what I mean. I'd give anything but money. Anything to know the cause of my exuberatednessessness.  Aye, fancy, fancy, fancy , I'm going away for two weeks holiday and

I've got two weeks pay in my pooch and my wife's in the hospital with a broken leg. Of course, mind you, when the accident happened I was very sorry.  Oh, I was ve.... I could have cried, but I didn't. It wasn't the time to cry, it was the time for action! I had to get her to the hospital and after I got her to the hospital and saw that she was comfort ... comfortably situated, I went home to my wee kitchen and I sat down and I ate four tins of sardines. I wish you could have seen my tongue in the morning. I had a coat and a pair of trousers hanging on it. Ah, but that didn't stop me from singing:

 

              C                                         

For I've just got off the chain, I've just got off the chain,

       D                                              D7                       G

I'm feeling as happy as a lark, the ducks among the rain.

        C                                                           F

I'm going to be having the time of my life away from Mrs. McBain,

                          G                                               G7                   C

because she'll maybe never get the chance to break her leg again.

 

    C - F - G - C   - F - G - C

 

            C                                         F

3. I've been a very happy man all through my married life,

           G                                                 C                            G

    but just like other married men, I've been subject to my wife.

            C                                                        F

    But mind I've always been a man, I have always stood my ground,

               F                     C                              G                   C

    but I must admit I've often been knocked out in the first round.

 

(Patter : )

Yes, and where is the man that can sit here and truthfully say that he has never been knocked out during the whole of his married life? I would love to see him, will you please stand up. No, he's not here tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

I remember  one night there was Thompson, Sampson, Simpson, Dickson, Johnson, Gibson, and Nelson, and we  were all in the little back room having a game of dominoes and then they would have me make a speech.

I said the only speech that I could make, I says, is on domesticity. So I rose and I said,  " Well , now,  I'm going to tell you this without fear." There's a fine expression for a married man to use. I say

this without fear that I, that I am Caesar! I am Caesar in my own house. Then the room door opened and my wife stuck her head in and she said,  "Caesar, home!" Did I go? You bet I did. I was home a quarter

of an hour before her and took up my position below the bed. 'Course when she came in she ordered me out.  I said "no nothing" I wish you could've  heard what I said to her and to mysel'. Yes! go on, giggle,

giggle. I know what you're giggling at, oh I know.  You think I went home because I was afraid of my wife, well, you're wrong.  It's not true. Well, why did I go home ? ha ha! ha! ha ha! As an example to the rest of

them who were there !

 

              C                                        

For I've just got off the chain, I've just got off the chain,

       D                                              D7                       G

I'm feeling as happy as a lark, the ducks among the rain.

        C                                                           F

I'm going to be having the time of my life away from Mrs. McBain,

                          G                                               G7                   C

because she'll maybe never get the chance to break her leg again.

 

+ repeat CHORUS        + C - F - G - C   - F - G - C

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    Ha ha ! Good bye, I’m away for my holiday.

 

    (Sir Harry Lauder)