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