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Back At The Isa

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Cmajor

90BPM

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[Verse 1]
CBig galvanised roofs Fand monster pipes black 
PG7ink and white clouds from a cChimney stack 
RCed dust and hawks in the wFind out back 
AnG7d here I am at thCe Isa 
[Link]
 C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C
[Verse 2]   
CWhat do you do in a Ftown like the Isa 
RG7etrenched at 50 bCecome an old miser 
DCrink yourself blind so you're nFone the wiser 
Sit at G7home with the race form and Cwhinge 
JusCt over the hill in hiFs own backyard 
The G7landscape becomes a Cpicture postcard 
Where the Ccolours are soft but the Flife is hard 
On the G7stations here at the CIsa 
[Link]
  C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C
[Verse 3]   
TConight's the night of thFe rodeo ball 
BefGore riders and bull and hCorses stand tall 
WhCile out in the park some Fblack people sprawl 
And Gshare their money oCn flagons 
ThCere's so much more to Fbe understood 
BefGore coming out here liCke Robin Hood 
ThCe do-gooders do more harm thFan good 
WiGthout really knowing Cthe Isa
[Link] 
   C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C
[Verse 4]  
ThCrough the Leichhardt East Where foFols gold flashes
FoGssick around for MalteCse Crosses 
FloCg them off to the touFrist buses 
SeGe ghost gums under Cthe moon 
Some Creally battle some Fmake do 
ThGe luckier ones make a quid Cand pull through 
CSome perch at the bar like a Fcaged cockatoo 
BuGt that's nothing new aCt the Isa 
[Link] 
 C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C
[Verse 5] 
AnCd it takes a special kFind of girl 
To Gstay out here in this rCugged world 
KeeCp your dignity when the oFathes are hurled 
I Gpay my respects tCo you 
AnCd I'll raise my glass to Fan outback town 
To Gthat weathered spirit that woCn't back down 
It Ctakes the courage of a rFodeo clown 
To Gstick it out at thCe Isa 
[Link] 
 C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C
[Verse 6] 
BCig galvanised roofs aFnd monster pipes black 
PG7ink and white clouds from a cChimney stack 
RCed dust and hawks in the wFind out back 
AnG7d here I am at thCe Isa 
[Outro]
Never Cthought I'd return to this lFonely track 
And hG7ere I am back at the ICsa 
C   F   G7  C   C   F   G7  C

All chords in this song (4)

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Back At The Isa

by John Williamson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

C F

Big galvanised roofs and monster pipes black

G7 C

Pink and white clouds from a chimney stack

C F

Red dust and hawks in the wind out back

G7 C

And here I am at the Isa

[Link]

C F G7 C C F G7 C

[Verse 2]

C F

What do you do in a town like the Isa

G7 C

Retrenched at 50 become an old miser

C F

Drink yourself blind so you're none the wiser

G7 C

Sit at home with the race form and whinge

C F

Just over the hill in his own backyard

G7 C

The landscape becomes a picture postcard

C F

Where the colours are soft but the life is hard

G7 C

On the stations here at the Isa

[Link]

C F G7 C C F G7 C

[Verse 3]

C F

Tonight's the night of the rodeo ball

G C

Before riders and bull and horses stand tall

C F

While out in the park some black people sprawl

G C

And share their money on flagons

C F

There's so much more to be understood

G C

Before coming out here like Robin Hood

C F

The do-gooders do more harm than good

G C

Without really knowing the Isa

[Link]

C F G7 C C F G7 C

[Verse 4]

C F

Through the Leichhardt East Where fools gold flashes

G C

Fossick around for Maltese Crosses

C F

Flog them off to the tourist buses

G C

See ghost gums under the moon

C F

Some really battle some make do

G C

The luckier ones make a quid and pull through

C F

Some perch at the bar like a caged cockatoo

G C

But that's nothing new at the Isa

[Link]

C F G7 C C F G7 C

[Verse 5]

C F

And it takes a special kind of girl

G C

To stay out here in this rugged world

C F

Keep your dignity when the oathes are hurled

G C

I pay my respects to you

C F

And I'll raise my glass to an outback town

G C

To that weathered spirit that won't back down

C F

It takes the courage of a rodeo clown

G C

To stick it out at the Isa

[Link]

C F G7 C C F G7 C

[Verse 6]

C F

Big galvanised roofs and monster pipes black

G7 C

Pink and white clouds from a chimney stack

C F

Red dust and hawks in the wind out back

G7 C

And here I am at the Isa

[Outro]

C F

Never thought I'd return to this lonely track

G7 C

And here I am back at the Isa

C F G7 C C F G7 C

About Back At The Isa Chords by John Williamson

Learn how to play Back At The Isa by John Williamson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Back At The Isa chords”, “Back At The Isa guitar chords”, or “John Williamson Back At The Isa chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Back At The Isa chords and for experienced players who want accurate Back At The Isa lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G7, G.

FAQ — Back At The Isa by John Williamson

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What key is "Back At The Isa" in?

The chords for "Back At The Isa" show the original chord names (including C, F, G7, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.