C
They passed an ordinance in the town, they said we’d have to tear it down,
                                          G7
That little old shack out back so dear to me.
             C                                F
Though the health department said its day was over and dead,
         C            G7       C
It will stand forever in my memory.

[Chorus]
                 C
Don’t let them tear that little brown buildin’ down.
                G7                 C
Don’t let them tear that precious buildin’ down.
                C                  F
Don’t let them tear that dear old buildin’ down,
             C                          C       G7      C
For there’s not another like it in the country or the town.

[Verse 2]
       C
It was not so long ago that I went trippin’ through the snow
                                       G7
Out to that house behind my old hound dog,
               C                             F
Where I would sit me down to rest like a snowbird on his nest
     C                   G7        C
And read the Sears and Roebuck catalog.

[Verse 3]
        C
I would hum a happy tune peepin’ through the quarter moon
                            G7
As my daddy’s kin had done before.
        C                         F
It was in that quiet spot daily cares could be forgot,
        C                G7              C
And it gave the same relief to rich and poor.

[Chorus]
                 C
Don’t let them tear that little brown buildin’ down.
                G7                 C
Don’t let them tear that precious buildin’ down.
                C                  F
Don’t let them tear that dear old buildin’ down,
             C                          C       G7      C
For there’s not another like it in the country or the town.

[Verse 4]
            C 
Now it was not a castle fair, but I could dream a future there
                                          G7
And whistle tunes to the yellow jacket’s drone.
          C                                F
I could orbit around the sun, fight with General Washington,
   C           G7            C
Or be a king upon a golden throne.

[Verse 5]
            C               
It wasn’t fancy built at all, we had newspapers on the wall.
                                    G7
It was air conditioned in the wintertime,
         C                          F
It was just a humble hut, but it’s door was never shut,
      C               G7              C
And a man could get inside without a dime.

[Chorus]
                 C
Don’t let them tear that little brown buildin’ down.
                G7                 C
Don’t let them tear that precious buildin’ down.
                C                  F
Don’t let them tear that dear old buildin’ down,
             C                          C       G7      C
For there’s not another like it in the country or the town.