F
One day  way out of my jurisdiction
                                      C
I met an old man on the street and I asked him for directions
          F
I said, "What's the quickest way back into town?"
                                   C            F
He scratched his cheek and spat tobacco on the ground


          F
I know by now old men they need their time to ponder,
             F                                   C
but then he answered, "Just walk south once you cross the big bridge yonder.
          F
There's a bus that runs along that way I've seen.
                      C            F
Just look out for the number Seventeen."

  Bb                             F
I took his word as the Gospel of Mark
             Bb                               F
I took the bridge across the place they call     Cathedral Park
          Bb
Then the river flows below the awful drop.
     F                                  C                F
And somewhere out beyond this so-called Seventeen should stop.

[Verse 2]
F
But then I wavered when I reached the other bank.
                               C
Maybe I'm at the recieving end of that old man's prank.
         F
I face a mountanside of trees and vegetation-
                       C     F
Not a single trace of civilisation.

        F
But of course to turn back now would hurt my pride.
                                 C
Found an exit to a freeway and I walked along the side.
        F
Then I came across a lonely faded sign
         F                C              F
That confirmed me on the Seventeen route line.

     Bb                             F
So I waited there for ages - sat in vain.
           Bb                       F
I spent an hour trying to recall my confirmation name.
           Bb
I said the rosary 3 times and then again.
   F                                C              F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen never came.
   F                                C              F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen never came.
    F                                                 F
(He waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen didn't come)

[instrumental break]
F             F
F    C
F             F
F         C   F

          Bb                                     F
Then the trees all seemed to say, "Don't look at us.
        Bb                                        F
It's obvious there's no one round here who could ever need a bus."
      Bb
I replied, "It could be worse it could be..."
N.C.
Then it started to rain!
   F                                C               F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen never came.
   F                                C               F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen never came.

[Verse 3]
         F
So I set off along a path of muddy porridge.
                                        C
I came across a diesel engine - Union-Pacific in blood orange.
         F
It was shunting to a switcher with a chain.
           F        C               F
It needed carriages to be called a train.

           F
I said, "Excuse me Mr. Railway-Worker, sir.
                                            C
I'm trying to get back to the city from the middle of nowhere.
       F
You at least seem to be pointing the right way.
         F                 C               F
So could I please hitch a ride with you today?"

          Bb                           F
He said, "I'd say yes if it were up to me.
        Bb                              F
These days there's so much red tape and    bureuocracy.
          Bb
There's a bus I'll tell you where to catch it from."
              F                                  C               F
But I already waited for the Seventeen, but the Seventeen didn't come.
   F                                C               F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen didn't come.

[Verse 4]
     F
Instead the gale force winds came with the rain.
                                 C
They turned my umb-er-ella to a mangled weather vane.
           F
I left it crumpled in a heap there on the ground.
            F              C                  F
Damn that Seventeen. I'll just walk back to town.

         F
Now this weather don't seem natural or fun.
                                   C
Maybe I'd feel different if I was born in Oregon,
           F
But I'm from a place that's mostly hot and dry -
     F               C            F
But try to tell this to an angry sky.

    Bb                           F
To answer me that sky only grew darker.
         Bb                               F
The rain had invaded my sneakers and the lining of my parka.
     Bb
The fingers of my hand had all gone numb.
    F                               C                F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen didn't come.
   F                                C                F
I waited for the Seventeen but the Seventeen didn't come.


[instrumental break]
Bb          F
Bb          F
Bb
F           C   F

[Verse 5]
(single strum)
     F                               F
For what this song is worth I didn't die.
  F                       C
I found a cozy cafe and I ordered a soy chai-
     F                               F
The most intrepid man the world has seen
          F           C             F
One who didn't even need the Seventeen

(resume strumming pattern)
    Bb                                  F
And I can't claim to having gained new wisdom,
       Bb                                   F
And I haven't learned much more about this city's transport system.
           Bb
I'm still wondering just what I will become.
    F                                C               F
I waited for the Seventeen and the Seventeen didn't come.
    F                                C               F
I waited for the Seventeen and the Seventeen didn't come.