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