Verse
A
I live on a street named after a saint
A
Women in the churches wear powder and paint
D
Where the Jews and the Catholics and Muslims all pray
A
I can tell a Proddy from a mile away
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Reed indeed
A E A
Gimme that old time religion, it’s just what I need
[Verse 2]
A
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory
A
Go tell it on the mountain, go tell the real story
D
Tell in that straightforward Puritanical tone
A
In the mystic hours, when a person’s alone
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Godspeed
A E A
Thump on the bible, proclaim a creed
[Instrumental]
A
[Verse 3]
A
You won’t amount to much, the people all said
A
Cuz I didn’t play guitar behind my head
D
Never pandered, never acted proud
A
Never took off my shoes throw them in the crowds
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, goodbye and good night
A E A
Put a jewel in your crown and I’ll put out the light
[Instrumental]
A
[Verse 4]
A
They threw everything at me, everything in the book
A
I had nothing to fight with but a butcher’s hook
D
They had no pity, they never lent a hand
A
I can’t sing a song I don’t understand
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, goodbye and good luck
A E A
I can’t play the record cuz my needle got stuck
[Verse 5]
A
Transparent woman in a transparent dress
A
Suits you well I must confess
D
I break open your grapes, I suck out the juice
A
I need you like my head needs a noose
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, goodbye and so long
A E A
I thought I could resist her but I was so wrong
[Verse 6]
A
God be with you, brother dear
A
If you don’t mind me asking, what brings you here?
D
Ah nothing much, I’m just looking for the man
A
Came to see where he’s lying in this lost land
E D
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, and everything within ya
A E A
Can’t you hear me calling from down in Virginia
[Outro]
A