As Ken (upyerkilt) stated earlier in this thread, sometimes it's useful to just 'borrow' chords and a melody and a lyric meter that somebody else has used. Here is a song I just finished that is a direct 'borrowing' of John Mayer's "Waiting For the World to Change".
I was attracted to this tune because of the elegantly simple chord structure and the great rhythm of the lyric - so I fit my own words into the basic framework.
Perhaps some of the other family guys (and gals) out there will identify with the sentiment of my version of the song?
<div class="song"><link rel="StyleSheet" href="../css/chordie.css" type="text/css" media="screen" title="Chordie style"><div id="singlesong"><div id="singlesongc"><div class="header"><h1 class="finaltitle"> While the Kids are Away</h1><h2 class="finalartist" style="text-decoration: none">by James McCormick, January 26, 2007</h2></div><div class="song"><div id="firstcol"><div class="textline"><span class="comment">based on the melody & meter of "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer</span>
</div><div class="chordline">We can <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>talk and laugh all <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>evening, we can <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>dance the hours a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Our <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>house is like a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>beach resort where <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>we can both just <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="chordline">The <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are gone we're <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>here alone, the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>silence seems so <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>strange
</div><div class="chordline">Let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>open up a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>little wine, re-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lax, and ease the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>strain
</div><div class="chorus"><div class="textline">
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', come <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>on girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="chordline">It's so <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>nice to be a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lone with you, such a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>rare and a wonderful <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>thing
</div><div class="chordline">So <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>snuggle up a little <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>closer girl, let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>have ourselves a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>fling . . .
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', come <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>on girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="textline"></div>
</div><div class="chordline">A few <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>years ago on a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>Friday night, we would be <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>out on the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>town
</div><div class="chordline"><span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>You and me in the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>big city just <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>sportin' it all a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>round
</div><div class="chordline">We would <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>hit the clubs. <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lookin' cool, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kickin' up our <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>heels
</div><div class="chordline">Yeah we <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>looked so tough <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>cruisin' round in my <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>home-built hotrod <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>wheels
</div><div class="chorus"><div class="textline">
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', come on <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="textline"></div>
</div><div class="chordline">Well <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>nowadays we <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>get around in af-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>fordable family se-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>dans
</div></div><div id="secondcol"><div class="chordline">A <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>hotrod just don't <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>get it when you're <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>on the family <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>plan
</div><div class="chordline">Hey but <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>that was then, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>this is now and our <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lives they have pro-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>gressed
</div><div class="chordline">So <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>many things to <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>think about, it's so <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>easy to get <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>stressed
</div><div class="chorus"><div class="textline">
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', come <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>on girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="textline"></div>
</div><div class="chordline">The <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids need stuff, our <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>jobs are hard, and the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>bills sure need to be <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>paid
</div><div class="chordline">And If I <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>had to do it <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>all alone I <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>sure would be a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>fraid
</div><div class="chordline">But <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin' we are <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>quite the team, we've <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>built a fami-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>ly
</div><div class="chordline">Our <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lives are full of do-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>mestic bliss, it's as <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>good as it can <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>be
</div><div class="chorus"><div class="textline">
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', come <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>on girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="chordline">It's so <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>nice to be a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>lone with you, such a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>rare and a wonderful <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>thing
</div><div class="chordline">So <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>snuggle up a little <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>closer girl, let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>have ourselves a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>fling . . .
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', while the <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>kids are a-<span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>way
</div><div class="chordline">Let's have a <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">D</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>date, <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">Am</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>darlin', <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">F</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>come on <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">G</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>girl let's <span class="bracket">[</span><span class="relc"><span class="absc">C</span></span><span class="bracket">]</span>play
</div><div class="textline"></div>
</div>
</div></div><div class="grids"><img class="chord" alt="Am" src="http://www.chordie.com../ramimages/i2/Amchord_N02210_1.png" /> <img class="chord" alt="C" src="http://www.chordie.com../ramimages/i8/Cchord_N32010_1.png" /> <img class="chord" alt="D" src="http://www.chordie.com../ramimages/i2/Dchord_NN0232_1.png" /> <img class="chord" alt="F" src="http://www.chordie.com../ramimages/i6/Fchord_133211_1.png" /> <img class="chord" alt="G" src="http://www.chordie.com../ramimages/i0/Gchord_320003_1.png" /> </div></div></div><div style="display:none">
{t:While the Kids are Away}
{st:by James McCormick, January 26, 2007}
{c:based on the melody & meter of "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer}
We can [C]talk and laugh all [Am]evening, we can [F]dance the hours a-[C]way
Our [G]house is like a [Am]beach resort where [F]we can both just [C]play
The [C]kids are gone we're [Am]here alone, the [F]silence seems so [C]strange
Let's [D]open up a [Am]little wine, re-[F]lax, and ease the [C]strain
{soc}
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', come [F]on girl let's [C]play
It's so [F]nice to be a-[C]lone with you, such a [G]rare and a wonderful [C]thing
So [F]snuggle up a little [C]closer girl, let's [Am]have ourselves a [G]fling . . .
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', come [F]on girl let's [C]play
{eoc}
A few [C]years ago on a [Am]Friday night, we would be [F]out on the [C]town
[G]You and me in the [Am]big city just [F]sportin' it all a-[C]round
We would [C]hit the clubs. [Am]lookin' cool, [F]kickin' up our [C]heels
Yeah we [D]looked so tough [Am]cruisin' round in my [F]home-built hotrod [C]wheels
{soc}
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', come on [F]girl let's [C]play
{eoc}
Well [C]nowadays we [Am]get around in af-[F]fordable family se-[C]dans
A [D]hotrod just don't [Am]get it when you're [F]on the family [C]plan
Hey but [C]that was then, [Am]this is now and our [F]lives they have pro-[C]gressed
So [D]many things to [Am]think about, it's so [F]easy to get [C]stressed
{soc}
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', come [F]on girl let's [C]play
{eoc}
The [C]kids need stuff, our [Am]jobs are hard, and the [F]bills sure need to be [C]paid
And If I [D]had to do it [Am]all alone I [F]sure would be a-[C]fraid
But [C]darlin' we are [Am]quite the team, we've [F]built a fami-[C]ly
Our [D]lives are full of do-[Am]mestic bliss, it's as [F]good as it can [C]be
{soc}
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', come [F]on girl let's [C]play
It's so [F]nice to be a-[C]lone with you, such a [G]rare and a wonderful [C]thing
So [F]snuggle up a little [C]closer girl, let's [Am]have ourselves a [G]fling . . .
Let's have a [C]date, [Am]darlin', while the [F]kids are a-[C]way
Let's have a [D]date, [Am]darlin', [F]come on [G]girl let's [C]play
{eoc}
</div>