Intro: A--E--A

v.1
^ALast night I stopped off for a beer, ^Don my way ^Ahome
^AAnd I saw this broken-hearted sweet thing, ^Bcryin' all ^Ealone
My ^Atender heart was deeply touched at the ^Dsight of a woman's ^Atears
So I ^Dsaid "Hi there", ^Apulled up a chair, and ^Eordered us a couple o' ^Abeers

We ^Dmusta drunk about a gallon o' brew
When I ^Alooked at my watch it was half-past two
An I ^Bsuddenly realized, I hadn't even called my ^Ewife!
^AKnowin' what would happen to me when I got home
I nearly ^Dbroke my neck gettin' to a phone
^AHere's what I told her in an ^Eeffort to save my ^Alife

Chorus:
^ADon't pay the ransom, honey, I've es^Dcaped
Con^Esiderin' what I been thru I'm in good ^Ashape
^AWell, my wrists an' ankles are a little sore from the ^Dtape
But ^Ddon't pay the ransom, honey, I've es^Acaped

Instr. Brk. 1/2v

v.2
Now, if you get tied up somewhere tonight, on your way home
In a poker game or with a good-lookin' dame, an' it slipped your mind to phone
Don't blow your cool like a crazy fool, an' tell your woman where you been
Your situation requires imagination, an' I've got an suggestion, my friend
Tell her...

Rpt. Ch.
No, don't pay the ransom, honey, I escaped!