There are already 3 chord versions of this song, but I think this one sounds the
best..even if I say so myself...
C D G/B 2x
C D G-Gsus4-G
Em A D
Well we're living here in Allentown
Am D G
And they're closing all the factories down
Em A Bm
Out in Bethlehem they're killing time
A G D/F# D/A - A
Filling out forms - Standing in line
Em A D
Well our fathers fought the Second World War
Am D G
Spent their weekends on the Jersey Shore
Em A Bm
Met our mothers in the USO
A G D/F# D/A - A
Asked them to dance, Danced with them slow
Em A D
And we're living here in Allentown
F/A G/B C
But the restlessness was handed down
Am D Em G/B C D
And it's getting very hard to stay
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/billy_joel/allentown_crd_ver_3.html ]
C D G/B 2x
C D G-Gsus4-G
Em A D
Well we're waiting here in Allentown
Am D G
For the Pennsylvania we never found
Em A Bm
For the promises our teachers gave
A G D/F# A
If we worked hard , If we behaved
Em A D
So the graduations hang on the wall
Am D G
But they never really helped us at all
Em A Bm
No they never taught us what was real
A G D/F# A
Iron and coke - And chromium steel
Em A D
And we're waiting here in Allentown
F/A G/B C
But they've taken all the coal from the ground
Am D Em G/B C D
And the union people crawled away
C D G/B C D
F G/F F
Every child had a pretty good shot
F G/F Bb/F
To get at least as far as their old man got
F G/F F
But something happened on the way to that place
F G/F
They threw an American flag in our face
C D G/B 2x
C D G Gsus4 G
Em A D
Well I'm living here in Allentown
F/A G/B C
And it's hard to keep a good man down
Am D Em G/B C D
But I won't be getting up today - ay - ay
C D G/B C D
SOLO>
F G/F F
F G/F Bb/F
F G/F F
F G/F
C D G/B 2x
C D Em G/B C D
And it's getting very hard to stay
Am D G
And we're living here in Allentown
