Verse
Em D Em
He was a shrimper out of San Leon bad language and bad teeth
Em D Em
He had an oyster shell exterior even rougher underneath
G D Em D
The deckhands called him captain the new comers called him stew
Em D Em
The old salts called him catfish by the way his whiskers grew
Em D Em
Tattoo on a sunburned arm said Ruby in a black heart
Em D Em
Sometimes he’d wake up sweating and yell that name out in the dark
G D Em D
She came down from Corpus Christi part woman part child
Em D Em
And the way she moved could take your breath and it drove the rednecks wild
[Chorus]
G D
Beauty and pain are fleeting
Em D
They get washed to the sea
Em D Em
Storms swell like Satan only God can wash you clean
[Verse 2]
Em D Em
Catfish could not help himself and Ruby was not free
Em D Em
He didn’t see her for what she was but what he wanted her to be
G D Em D
He never answered questions about the future or the past
Em D Em
Just another shot of whiskey saying nothing ever lasts
Em D Em
The warnings had come early and the morning looked like blood
Em D Em
The birds were wild and nervous like before the last big flood
G D Em D
Everybody stared to the sea it took their breath
Em D Em
Clouds grew dark and ominous looked like danger looked like death
[Chorus]
G D
Beauty and pain are fleeting
Em D
They get washed to the sea
Em D Em
Storms swell like Satan only God can wash you clean
[Verse 3]
Em D Em
Catfish started drinking like a hundred times before
Em D Em
You ain’t going to get me this time he said you dirty whore
G D Em D
He’d rode out every single storm that ever hit the coast
Em D Em
But the worst storm raged inside him and haunted like a ghost
Em D Em
They all started boarding up the windows nothing new
Em D Em
But this one felt different and the storm clouds sailed steel blue
G D Em D
I’m going to ride her out right here this boats my ball and chain
Em D Em
Damn storm named Ruby ain’t no bitch I can’t tame
[Chorus]
G D
Beauty and pain are fleeting
Em D
They get washed to the sea
Em D Em
Storms swell like Satan only God can wash you clean
[Verse 4]
Em D Em
By the next morning it looked like a bad dream
Em D Em
Somebody said that late that night they heard somebody scream
G D Em D
The tide receded slowly and revealed the sunken wreck
Em D Em
Bow lines still tied to the dock holes pounded through the deck
Em D Em
Down below what they found is still talked about today
Em D Em
Catfish sitting dead as life his skin all wet gray
G D Em D
And when they came to take him they sounded the alarm
Em D Em
The tattoo that said Ruby had all but vanished from his arm
[Outro]
G D
Beauty and pain are fleeting
Em D
They get washed to the sea
Em D Em
Storms swell like Satan only God washes you clean