D  Bm  A
G  D  A
D  C  G
D  C  G

[Verse 1]
     D                     Bm
It's after nine, bar time, Any Bar USA
A
The bartender yells to the band to get up there and play
G                   D/F#                   A
A little bit out of tune, they slowly fall in
       D                    Bm                 A
As the chords ring out, the nighttime roars to life, if only in a dream
G    D/F#                      A
It's just an empty bar, that's right
                           D  C  G    D  C  G
But you're the opener tonight

[Chorus]
G              A                  G          A
You were gonna be a singer on the hit parade
G                      A              G            A
Instead, you're just a singer warming up the stage
                          D  C  G    D  C  G
For tomorrow's latest rage

[Verse 2]
        D                           Bm
And the dream world of every little opening band
A
Soon gets shattered and the headliner takes command
G                     D/F#              A
You feel the fleet of fame in a night
       D                 Bm
As the latest local hero shoots you a wink
A
You sit there thinking, "Oh my God did we stink or what?"
G                D/F#          A
There's only one shot tonight
                              D  C  G    D  C  G
And you're the opener, that's right

[Chorus]
G              A                  G          A
You were gonna be a singer on the hit parade
G                      A              G            A
Instead, you're just a singer warming up the stage
                    G  D/F#  A  D  C  G    D  C  G
You're the opener tonight

[Verse 3]
    D                              Bm
The night is finally over, and the place is sure a mess
A
You grab your guitar and get kicked out with the rest
G               D/F#                           A
The headliner's bus rolls by and they honk and wave
          D                              Bm
As you're walking across the street some guy you meet
A
Says he caught your band and you guys was kind of neat
G              D/F#                      E
Say, could you open up for his band some time?

[Chorus]
G              A                  G         A
You were gonna be a singer on the hit parade
G                      A              G            A
Instead, you're just a singer warming up the stage
                    D  C  G    D  C  G
You're the opener tonight