Intro
Am Am E7 Am Am
[Verse]
Am E7 Am Em Am
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
E7 Am Em Am
Saying, "This land is condemned
E7 G D
All the way from New Orleans
F G Am Em Am
To Jerusalem."
E7 Am Em Am
I traveled through East Texas
E7 Am Em Am
Where many martyrs fell
E7 G D
And I know no one can sing the blues
F G Am Em Am
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Am E7 Am Em Am
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
E7 Am Em Am
As they were taking down the tents
E7 G D
The stars above the barren trees
F G Am Em Am
Were his only audience
E7 Am Em Am
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
E7 Am Em Am
Can strut their feathers well
E7 G D
But nobody can sing the blues
F G Am Em Am
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Am E7 Am Em Am
See them big plantations burning
E7 Am Em Am
Hear the cracking of the whips
E7 G D
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
F G Am
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
E7 Am Em Am
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
E7 Am
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
E7 G D
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
F G Am Em Am
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Am E7 Am Em Am
There's a woman by the river
E7 Am Em Am
With some fine young handsome man
E7 G D
He's dressed up like a squire
F G Am
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
E7 Am Em Am
There's a chain gang on the highway
E7 Am Em Am
I can hear them rebels yell
E7 G D
And I know no one can sing the blues
F G Am Em Am
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Am E7 Am Em Am
Well, God is in heaven
E7 Am Em Am
And we all want what's his
E7 G D
But power and greed and corruptible seed
F G Am
Seem to be all that there is
E7 Am Em Am
I'm gazing out the window
E7 Am Em Am
Of the St. James Hotel
E7 G D
And I know no one can sing the blues
F G Am Em Am
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Coda]
Am E7 Am Em Am Am E7 Am Em Am
Am E7 G D F G Am Em Am
Am E7 Am Em Am Am E7 Am Em Am
Am E7 G D F G Dm