Verse
F
I live on a street named after a saint
F
Women in the churches wear powder and paint
A#
Where the Jews and the Catholics and Muslims all pray
F
I can tell a Proddy from a mile away
C A#
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
A#
Tell in that straightforward Puritanical tone
F
In the mystic hours, when a person’s alone
C A#
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
A#
Never pandered, never acted proud
F
Never took off my shoes throw them in the crowds
C A#
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
A#
They had no pity, they never lent a hand
F
I can’t sing a song I don’t understand
C A#
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
A#
I break open your grapes, I suck out the juice
F
I need you like my head needs a noose
C A#
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?
A#
Ah nothing much, I’m just looking for the man
F
Came to see where he’s lying in this lost land
C A#
Goodbye Jimmy Reed, and everything within ya
F C F
Can’t you hear me calling from down in Virginia
[Outro]
A