Intro: D   G   A5  C   D
 
 D                   C
Rows of lights in a circle of steel
 
          D                    G
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
 
D            C                           G
High windows flickerin' down through the snow
 
  D
A time you know
 
D                        G            A5
Sights and sounds of the people goin' 'round
 
     C                       D
Everybody's in step with the season
-
 
D                   C 
A child is born to a welfare case

          D                    G
Where the rats run around like they own the place

D            C                           G
The room is chilly, the building is old
 
  D
That's how it goes

D                        G            A5
The doctor's found on his welfare round

     C                       D
And he comes and he leaves on the double
-
 
D                   C
Deck The Halls was the song they played

          D                    G
In the flat next door where they shout all day

D            C                           G
She tips her gin bottle back till it's gone


D
The child is strong
D                        G            A5
A week, a day, they will take it away

     C                       D
For they know about all her bad habits
-
 
D                   C
Christmas dawns and the snow lets up

          D                    G
And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup

D            C                           G
She hides her face in her hands for a while
 
  D
Says look here child

D                        G            A5
Your father's pride was his means to provide

     C                       D
And he's servin' three years for that reason
-
 
D                   C
Rows of lights in a circle of steel
 
          D                    G
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
 
D            C                           G
High windows flickerin' down through the snow
 
  D
A time you know
 
D                        G            A5
Sights and sounds of the people goin' 'round
 
     C                       D
Everybody's in step with the season