Intro
Cm Cm G7 Cm Cm
[Verse]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Saying, "This land is condemned
G7 A# F
All the way from New Orleans
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
To Jerusalem."
G7 Cm Gm Cm
I traveled through East Texas
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Where many martyrs fell
G7 A# F
And I know no one can sing the blues
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
G7 Cm Gm Cm
As they were taking down the tents
G7 A# F
The stars above the barren trees
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Were his only audience
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Can strut their feathers well
G7 A# F
But nobody can sing the blues
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
See them big plantations burning
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Hear the cracking of the whips
G7 A# F
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
Ab A# Cm
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
G7 Cm Gm Cm
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
G7 Cm
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
G7 A# F
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
There's a woman by the river
G7 Cm Gm Cm
With some fine young handsome man
G7 A# F
He's dressed up like a squire
Ab A# Cm
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
G7 Cm Gm Cm
There's a chain gang on the highway
G7 Cm Gm Cm
I can hear them rebels yell
G7 A# F
And I know no one can sing the blues
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
Well, God is in heaven
G7 Cm Gm Cm
And we all want what's his
G7 A# F
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Ab A# Cm
Seem to be all that there is
G7 Cm Gm Cm
I'm gazing out the window
G7 Cm Gm Cm
Of the St. James Hotel
G7 A# F
And I know no one can sing the blues
Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Coda]
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
Cm G7 A# F Ab A# Cm Gm Cm
Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm Cm G7 Cm Gm Cm
Cm G7 A# F Ab A# Dm