A Better Place to Be (Harry Chapin song)
Encyclopedia
"A Better Place to Be" is a song by Harry Chapin
from his 1972 album, Sniper and Other Love Songs
. Chapin always claimed the song was his personal favorite of all his other songs he had written.
The song then takes the little man's point of view as he states that he is a midnight watchman at a place called Miller's Tool and Die. One week earlier, he goes to a diner and sees a beautiful girl sitting "two seats from [his] right". Though worried that she's too good for him, the little man still attempts to "give her one good try." Stammering, he makes a fool of himself, but the girl takes his offer stating with the song's chorus:
"If you want me to come with you / then that's all right with me / Because I've been goin' nowhere / And anywhere's a better place to be
The little man takes her home and attempts to turn on the lights as he enters his room, but the girl tells him to leave the lights off because she "doesn't mind the dark". The little man cannot believe the luck he's having and as he tries to tell the girl, she claims she understands and once again sings the song's chorus. The next day, the little man watches her sleep and leaves early so he can return and surprise her with breakfast. When he returns, he finds she has gone and had left behind a "six word letter, saying: 'It's time that I moved on.'"
After the little man's story, the tearful waitress tells him she wishes that she too was beautiful so she could be with the little man. She says, "I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home / for we both know all about emptiness / and living all alone". The little man gives the waitress a "crooked grin", finishes his drink and tells her that he knows they both have been very lonely and "if you want me to come with you / then that's alright with me / 'cause I know I'm going nowhere / and anywhere's a better place to be".
, Chapin states he came up with the song while visiting Watertown, New York claiming he "spent a week there one afternoon".
Harry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
from his 1972 album, Sniper and Other Love Songs
Sniper and Other Love Songs
Sniper and Other Love Songs is the second studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1972. The album's title song is a vaguely fictionalised account of Charles Whitman's shootings from the University of Texas at Austin Main Building clocktower in August 1966...
. Chapin always claimed the song was his personal favorite of all his other songs he had written.
Story
The song begins with "a little man" sitting at a bar, looking glum. The waitress, who is described as a "big ol' friendly girl", notices this in him and asks him what his problem is. The little man ignores the waitress at first, but after "a couple of sips" he begins to tell her his story.The song then takes the little man's point of view as he states that he is a midnight watchman at a place called Miller's Tool and Die. One week earlier, he goes to a diner and sees a beautiful girl sitting "two seats from [his] right". Though worried that she's too good for him, the little man still attempts to "give her one good try." Stammering, he makes a fool of himself, but the girl takes his offer stating with the song's chorus:
"If you want me to come with you / then that's all right with me / Because I've been goin' nowhere / And anywhere's a better place to be
The little man takes her home and attempts to turn on the lights as he enters his room, but the girl tells him to leave the lights off because she "doesn't mind the dark". The little man cannot believe the luck he's having and as he tries to tell the girl, she claims she understands and once again sings the song's chorus. The next day, the little man watches her sleep and leaves early so he can return and surprise her with breakfast. When he returns, he finds she has gone and had left behind a "six word letter, saying: 'It's time that I moved on.'"
After the little man's story, the tearful waitress tells him she wishes that she too was beautiful so she could be with the little man. She says, "I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home / for we both know all about emptiness / and living all alone". The little man gives the waitress a "crooked grin", finishes his drink and tells her that he knows they both have been very lonely and "if you want me to come with you / then that's alright with me / 'cause I know I'm going nowhere / and anywhere's a better place to be".
Origin
For the song's live version on the album Greatest Stories LiveGreatest Stories Live
Greatest Stories Live is the first live album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1976. Certain elements had to be re-recorded in the studio due to technical problems with the live recordings. The original LP release featured three new studio tracks, two of which were...
, Chapin states he came up with the song while visiting Watertown, New York claiming he "spent a week there one afternoon".