James Otto - "The Ball'

Capo on 6th fret

No intro

If I [C]  hadn't dropped the ball, I would have [G] took it all the way

Home{Am7}coming '89 with ten [F} seconds left to [G] play

We were [C] driving toward the goal line, they were [G ]screaming in the stands

I had the [Am7] chance to be a hero, but it [F] slipped right through my [G]hands

There would have [Dm] been a big pep rally, they would have [C] hung my [G] jersey on the [F] wall [G}

If I [F] hadn't dropped the [C] ball

Well, [C] me and Sandy Miller were s'posed to [G] meet after the game

I [Am7] waited by the bleachers, [F] but she never [G] came

I found a [C] note on my windshield under[G]neath the wiper blade

With [Am7]"goodbye" bleeding through it in the [F] cold October [G]rain

We probably [Dm] would've gotten married, and those [C] recruiters in from [G] 'Bama would have [F]called [G]

If I [F] hadn't dropped the [C] ball

Life [F] would have been so different

If in that [Am7] instant, things had gone the way I [C} planned

But the [F] fact is that they didn't

And the [Am7] hand I wound up given

Is [Dm] something that I'll never under[G]stand

(Small pause, no guitar)

I [C] ran away that summer, took a [G] job out on the coast

And that's [Am7] where I met your mama, and the [F] rest, I guess you [G] know

If I [C] had the chance to go back and [G] score that last touchdown

Well, [Am7] son, I wouldn't do it 'cause you [F] wouldn't be here [G] now

And I [Dm] wouldn't be your hero, I wouldn't [C] be around to [G] catch you when you [F] fall [G]

If I [F] hadn't dropped the [C] ball

Life [F] would have been so different

If in that [Am7] instant, things had gone the way I [C} planned

But the [F] fact is that they didn't

And the [Am7] hand I wound up given

Is the [Dm] one that God intended me to [G] have

No, I [F] wouldn't be the [Am7] man I am at [F} all

If I [G] hadn't dropped the [C] ball

Outro

C (single strum)

 

Josh Tullos