Chained to These Lovin’ Arms

[Verse 1]
Well, he's lived here all his life
Him and his farmer wife
With Jesus to believe in
And there's bills that gotta be paid
Money that's gotta be made
And his only son is leavin'
Coming up the lane he sees her standing there
And he lays his head upon her arms and rests it there

[Chorus]
And he's chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave them
Chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave

[Verse 2]
They all said that her life's a mess
And they all laughed at her borrowed dress
There's nobody gonna teach them
She was married at seventeen
In the cold New Jersey rain
By a judge, not a preacher
They say good things come to those who wait
But she'll be damned if she's left standing at heaven's gate

[Chorus]
And she's chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave them
Chained to these lovin' arms
She's chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave

[Post-Chorus]
'Cause love don't come easy, that's a fact
Ain't never turning back the hands of time
Least not yet

[Verse 3]
Well, they moved there in the fall
To the streets of Montreal
The singer and the poet
But the words never seemed to rhyme
And the song sounded out of time
Though they tried not to show it
Three flights up the stairs in a rented flat
They held on to each other tight
And they never did look back

[Chorus]
And they're chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave them
Chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave

[Verse 4]
If I was a saint I would not cry
If I knew better I'd just get by
If I was a child I wouldn't worry
But all they understand
Is a poker face and a winning hand
Go tell it to the jury
Well, now, dreams are not the only stuff of life
I know that well 'cause I'm lying safe and sound
In your arms tonight

[Chorus]
And I'm chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave them
Chained to these lovin' arms
Chained to these lovin' arms
Ain't never gonna leave

[Post-Chorus]
'Cause love don't come easy, that's a fact
Ain't never turning back the hands of time
Least not yet