C#m                 Bm
The hardest part of leaving
A                  E 
is the letting go, the letting go
The hardest part of loving 
is the letting go, the letting go (F#m D E)

E         C#m   D             A     E  C#m  D           A 
packing a life, a husband and wife,         into an old suitcase
wrapping the pots, stacking the pans, throwing out those old towels
getting up early, waking up weary, eager to make a new start
                                    D                 E
locking the house and thowing away  that old faithful key

traveling together, I often wonder, what she's thinking
marrying young, you never know exactly what you've got
reviewing the choices doesn't change them, so why bother?
Holding a grudge, a character smudge, too much to carry now  

the serpent is subtle, like the rumor of trouble, clouds that get in the way
the shaking of sticks, the casting of stones, wordless sounds we make 
should have know better than to count on the weather, the sun's gone away
and now it's just us, the thing between us, gets bigger each day 
 
arriving at dawn, the hot sun spills over a new land
thorns and thistles, machetes and pistols, got to stake our new claim
look at our boys, growing so tall, what have we given them?
A field to plow; a flock to herd; they've only each other now 

E      D     A           E 
When I go, a piece of me remains 
When you go, a piece of me leaves
The pain that I feel is all that I know,
but I have to let it go, let it go
# copyright Joe Johnston