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