[Intro]
G
[Strophe]
G 
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress 
                                                D 
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand 
          G 
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress 
                                     D 
With my father in a casket, I had no plans
[Instrumentale]
G
[Pre-Refrain]
G                                  C              G 
And I left the footprints, the mud stained on the carpet 
                                                D 
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town 
      G                           C                G 
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant 
                                                      D 
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
[Refrain]
          G        D     C        G     C            G          D 
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life 
           G   D             C   G             C        G     D 
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
[Instrumentale]
G
[Pre-Refrain]
          G                       C                       G 
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me 
                                             D 
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true 
     G                     C       G 
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me 
         C               G                        D 
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
[Refrain]
          G        D     C        G     C            G          D 
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life 
           G   D             C   G             C        G     D 
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
[Pont]
        Em                 G           C     D     Em 
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce 
         G                        Em            C        D      G 
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
[Instrumentale]
G
[Pre-Refrain]
      G                C               G 
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters 
                                              D 
But that's all in the past now, gone with the wind 
      G                    C                   G 
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom 
       C         G 
It's a bed and a bathroom 
                    D 
And a place for the end
[Refrain]
            G       D     C        G     C            G          D 
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life 
           G   D             C   G             C        G     D 
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
[Outro]
D G