A A/G# A/F# A/E D/D G/B(pinky on the D) B/Bm7 E/E7
A A/G#
There's an evenin' haze settlin' over town
A/F# A/E
Starlight by the edge of the creek
D/D A/C#
The buyin' power of the proletariat's gone down
Bm7/B E7/E
Money's gettin' shallow and weak
A A/G#
Well, the place I love best is a sweet memory
A/F# A/E
It's a new path that we trod
D/D C#/E
They say low wages are a reality
B/Bm7 E/E7
If we want to compete abroad
A A/G#
My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf
A/F# A/E
Come sit down on my knee
D/D A/C#
You are dearer to me than myself
Bm7/B E7/E
As you yourself can see
A A/G#
While I'm listening to the steel rails hum
A/F# A/E
Got both eyes tight shut
D/D A/C#
Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from
Bm7/B E7/E
Creeping it's way into my gut
Chorus:
D A
Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
Bm A
Bring me my boots and shoes
D A
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
Bm E7 A
Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
A A/G#
Well, I'm sailin' on back, ready for the long haul
A/F# A/E
Tossed by the winds and the seas
D/D A/C#
I'll drag 'em all down to hell and I'll stand 'em at the wall
Bm7/B E7/E
I'll sell 'em to their enemies
A A/G#
I'm tryin' to feed my soul with thought
A/F# A/E
Gonna sleep off the rest of the day
D/D A/C#
Sometimes no one wants what we got
Bm7/B E7/E
Sometimes you can't give it away
A A/G#
Now the place is ringed with countless foes
A/F# A/E
Some of them may be deaf and dumb
D/D A/C#
No man, no woman knows
Bm7/B E7/E
The hour that sorrow will come
A A/G#
In the dark I hear the night birds call
A/F# A/E
I can feel a lover's breath
D/D A/C#
I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall
Bm7/B E7/E
Sleep is like a temporary death
(repeat chorus)
A A/G#
Well, they burned my barn, and they stole my horse
A/F# A/E
I can't save a dime
D/D A/C#
I got to be careful, I don't want to be forced
Bm7/B E7/E
Into a life of continual crime
A A/G#
I can see for myself that the sun is sinking
A/F# A/E
How I wish you were here to see
D/D A/C#
Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking
Bm7/B E7/E
That you have forgotten me?
A A/G#
Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret
A/F# A/E
They waste your nights and days
D/D A/C#
Them I will forget
Bm7/B E7/E
But you I'll remember always
A A/G#
Old memories of you to me have clung
A/F# A/E
You've wounded me with your words
D/D A/C#
Gonna have to straighten out your tongue
Bm7/B E7/E
It's all true, everything you've heard
(repeat chorus)
A A/G#
In you, my friend, I find no blame
A/F# A/E
Wanna look in my eyes, please do
D/D A/C#
No one can ever claim
Bm7/B E7/E
That I took up arms against you
A A/G#
All across the peaceful sacred fields
A/F# A/E
They will lay you low
D/D A/C#
They'll break your horns and slash you with steel
Bm7/B E7/E
I say it so it must be so
A A/G#
Now I'm down on my luck and I'm black and blue
A/F# A/E
Gonna give you another chance
D/D A/C#
I'm all alone and I'm expecting you
Bm7/B E7/E
To lead me off in a cheerful dance
A A/G#
I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife
A/F# A/E
I can live on rice and beans
D/D A/C#
Some people never worked a day in their life
Bm7/B E7/E
Don't know what work even means
(repeat chorus)