{title:Ten Minutes to Deadline}
{st:Ballad of the Basement}
[C][D][G][E]
I [E]haven't seen my [Am]writers since [D]10 o'clock this [G]morning.
The [E]only copy [Am]that I've got is [D]outdated and [G]boring.
[E]An empty page is [Am]on my screen and [D]that's where it's [G]staying,
[E]The editor is [Am]gently, but [D]still firmly [G]saying...

It's [D7]te-[D]en minutes to [G]deadline
[C]Better get this [D]page on it's [G]way.
Just [D7]te-[D]en minutes to [G]deadline
[C]Hope my Mac [D]doesn't crash to[G]day.  [E]

[E]The Copy Desk sent my [Am]copy back and [D]there's nothing [G]left of it.
They [E]read it once, they [Am]read it twice, I've [D]never seen so [G]much red ink.
The [E]copy's short, the [Am]page is long and [D]even the [G]graphic's small,
[E]Think I might just [Am]have to run [D]half a page of [G]Mail Call, 'cuz it's

[D7]Fi-[D]ive minutes to [G]deadline
[C]Boy, it's [D]really getting [G]late.
Just [D7]Fi-[D]ive minutes to [G]deadline
[C]Huntsville might [D]just have to [G]wait.  [E]
{np}
[E]Friends at the [Am]Sports Desk are [D]starting to [G]laugh at me,
[E]But I think this [Am]page just might [D]come together [G]finally.
A [E]little more work and a [Am]software trick and [D]I'll be [G]through with it,
[E]Just need a [Am]good headline that [D]won't make the [G]writer flip and

[D7]Now I'm [D]up against my [G]deadline.
[C]Editor is [D]starting to [G]frown.
[D7]Now I'm [D]up against my [G]deadline,
[C]Guess I'd better [D]set this gee-tar [G]down.