There (G)was a (D)man who (C)couldn't (G)sleep no (C)matter (D7)how he (G)tried,
He courted (D)sleep for (C)twenty (G)years but she (D7)wouldn't (D)be his (G)bride,
The (D)doctors took his temperature and (D7)some of his money, (G)too,
And the chemist (D)said I've (C)got more (G)pills if (D7)these ones (D)do not (G)do.

Chorus
And in (F)all this (C)time, no (G)matter what you think, this (D7)man never (D)slept a (G)wink.

He (G)lived with his (D)suit in a (C)lonely (G)house with (C)friends he (D7)couldn't (G)make,
And because this (D)man could (C)never (G)sleep, he was (D7)never (D)quite a(G)wake,
But to (D)while away the daylight hours he'd (D7)climb into his (G)suit,
Go to his (D)office to (C)worry in (G)peace and (D7)frown in(D)to his (G)books.

Chorus sung

And (G)every (D)night in (C)search of (G)sleep he'd (C)look at the (D7)mocking (G)bed,
Climb out of his (D)suit end (C)say a (G)prayer for the (D7)living (D)and the (G)dead,
The (D)suit would wait upon the chair (D7)watching him all (G)night,
Swallowing (D)pills, pre(C)tending to (G)yawn un(D7)til the (D)morning (G)light.

Chorus sung

One (G)night he (D)lay and (C)thought to him(G)self, (C)half of the (D7)world is (G)dead,
Sleeping a(D)way and (C)equal (G)now with their (D7)clothes at the (D)side of the (G)bed.
(D)Bishops, kings and robbers would (D7)all now look the (G)same,
Until an(D)other (C)day would (G)say, it’s (D7)costume (D)time a(G)gain.

Chorus instrumental

Then he (G)thought of the (D)suits at (C)work each (G)day as they (C)brought their (D7)owners (G)in,
And the confident (D)suits of (C)pale sales(G)men, (D7)covering (D)threadbare (G)limbs,
The (D)stiff pressed suit of a bank man turn a (D7)worn out jacket (G)down,
The little (D)girl dressed (C)up as a (G)bride and the (D7)judge dressed (D)up as a (G)clown.

Chorus instrumental

Then the (G)man who (D)couldn't (C)sleep set (G)up, in his (C)eye there (D7)burned a (G)flame,
You lousy (D)stinking (C)suit he (G)yelled, you (D7)are the (D)one to (G)blame,
He (D)grabbed it by the arms and legs, it (D7)didn't have a (G)chance,
And when he'd (D)torn it (C)into (G)shreds his (D7)heart be(D)gan to (G)dance.

Chorus instrumental 2x

Then he (G)ran in(D)to the (C)or(G)chard where the (C)scent of the (D7)blossoms (G)said,
Some people (D)think they (C)are a(G)live be(D7)cause they (D)are not (G)dead,
He (D)laughed up at the rising sun and his (D7)heart gave a sudden (G)leap,

And two days (D)later (C)he was (G)found – (a capella!) in the (D7)garden (D)fast a(G)sleep.

 

Chorus instrumental 2x