Intro E A E A Verse 1 E A If you could see me now B E A The one who said that he`d rather roam B E A The one who said he`d rather be alone B E If you could only see me now Verse 2
A If I could hold you now B E A Just for a moment if I could really make you mine B E A Just for a while turn back the hands of time B E If I could only hold you now Chorus 1 A B I`ve been too long in the wind E A too long in the rain F#m B E Taking any comfort that I can A B Lookin` back and longing for E A the freedom from my chains F#m B E A E A Lyin` in your loving arms again Verse 3 E A If you could hear me now B E A Singing somewhere through the lonely night B E A Dreaming of the arms that held me tight B E If you could only hear me now Chorus 2 A B I`ve been too long in the wind E A Oh too long in the rain F#m B E Taking any comfort that I can A B Looking back and longing for E A the freedom from my chains F#m B E Lying`in your lovin` arms again Outro A B E A E I can almost feel your lovin` arms again
This was written by Tom Jans, who was working as a staff songwriter for the Irving/Almo publishing company when he wrote this song. Jans was singer/songwriter who worked with Mimi Fariña before moving to Nashville to take the staff job.
Jans died in 1984 at age 36. Dobie Gray was the first to record this song, releasing it in 1973 as the follow up to his hit "Drift Away." Many other artists have recorded it since, including Millie Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Etta James, Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John and Petula Clark.