G                               Bm
She was well rehearsed, fair brown and blonde
         Em                                C
She had friends who was busboys and friends in the Pentagon
G                 Bm/F#        Em         D           C
Playin' a show in Miami in the theater of divine comedy.

[Verse 2]
G                                   Bm
Talked in the shadows where they talked in the rain
         Em                          C
I could tell she was still feelin' the pain
    G      Bm/F#        Em    D   C
Pain of rejection, pain of infidelity.

[Verse 3]
G                                   Bm
Was she a child or a woman? I can't say which
         Em                     C
One to another she could easily switch.
G              Bm/F#        Em      D           C
Couples were dancin' an' i lost track of the hours.

[Verse 4]
G                             Bm
He was well prepared, i knew he was
         Em                        C
Paying attention like a rattlesnake does
G              Bm/F#        Em         D           C
When he's hearin' footsteps tramplin' over his flowers.

[Chorus 1]
F                        G             C           F
And that Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F                            G             C
From the circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F                          G                         C          F                
An' them distant ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F                          C                      G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.

[Instrumental]
Em A 
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E

[Verse 5]
G                                             Bm
She looked into my soul through the clothes that i wore
         Em                                  C
She said, "We got a mutual friend standin' at the door.
G           Bm/F#        Em         D           C
Yeah, you know he's got our best interest in mind.”

[Verse 6]
G                                         Bm
He was well connected, but her heart was a snare
         Em                  C
And she had left him to die in there
G             Bm/F#        Em       D        C
Here were payments due and he was a little behind.

[Verse 7]
G                                         Bm 
Well i slept in a hotel where flies buzz my head
         Em                                C
Ceiling fan was broken, there was heat in my bed
G         Bm/F#        Em         D       C
Street band playin', "Nearer My God To Thee.”

[Verse 8]
G                                   Bm
We met in secret where we drank from a spring
         Em                                     C
She said, "I know what you're thinkin', but there ain't a thing
G           Bm/F#        Em         D         C
We can do about it, so we might as well let it be.”

[Chorus 2]
F                        G             C           F
The Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F                            G             C
From the circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F                           G                C                 F
An' them distant ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F                          C                      G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.

[Instrumental]
Em A 
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E

[Verse 9]
G                              Bm
Atlantic City, two years to the day
         Em                                C
I hear a voice cryin', "Daddy” and i looked that way
G                 Bm/F#        Em         D           C
But it's only the silence on the buttermilk hills that call.

[Verse 10]
G                                   Bm
Every new messenger bringin' evil reports
         Em                           C
'Bout riotin' armies and time that is short
G                       Bm/F#        Em         D           C
An' earthquakes and train wrecks and hate words scribbled on walls.

[Verse 11]
G                                      Bm
Would i have married her? I don't know i suppose
         Em                                C
She had bells in her braids and they hung to her toes
G            Bm/F#        Em         D           C
But i heard my mirrored destiny said to be movin' on.

[Verse 12]
G                                     Bm
And i felt it come over me, some kind of gloom
         Em                                   C
For the sake of "Come on with me girl, i got plenty of room.”
G                 Bm/F#        Em         D           C
But i knew i'd be lyin' and besides she had already gone.

[Chorus 3]
F                        G             C           F
And that Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F                            G             C
Circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F                        G                C                 F
And them busy ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F                          C                      G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.

[Instrumental]
Em A 
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E