Intro
A#m A#m F7 A#m A#m
[Verse]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Saying, "This land is condemned
F7 G# D#
All the way from New Orleans
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
To Jerusalem."
F7 A#m Fm A#m
I traveled through East Texas
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Where many martyrs fell
F7 G# D#
And I know no one can sing the blues
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
F7 A#m Fm A#m
As they were taking down the tents
F7 G# D#
The stars above the barren trees
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Were his only audience
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Can strut their feathers well
F7 G# D#
But nobody can sing the blues
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
See them big plantations burning
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Hear the cracking of the whips
F7 G# D#
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
Gb G# A#m
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
F7 A#m Fm A#m
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
F7 A#m
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
F7 G# D#
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
There's a woman by the river
F7 A#m Fm A#m
With some fine young handsome man
F7 G# D#
He's dressed up like a squire
Gb G# A#m
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
F7 A#m Fm A#m
There's a chain gang on the highway
F7 A#m Fm A#m
I can hear them rebels yell
F7 G# D#
And I know no one can sing the blues
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
Well, God is in heaven
F7 A#m Fm A#m
And we all want what's his
F7 G# D#
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Gb G# A#m
Seem to be all that there is
F7 A#m Fm A#m
I'm gazing out the window
F7 A#m Fm A#m
Of the St. James Hotel
F7 G# D#
And I know no one can sing the blues
Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Coda]
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
A#m F7 G# D# Gb G# A#m Fm A#m
A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m A#m F7 A#m Fm A#m
A#m F7 G# D# Gb G# Dm