B B/A# B/G# B/F# E/E G/B(pinky on the D) C#/C#m7 F#/F#7
B B/A#
There's an evenin' haze settlin' over town
B/G# B/F#
Starlight by the edge of the creek
E/E B/D#
The buyin' power of the proletariat's gone down
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Money's gettin' shallow and weak
B B/A#
Well, the place I love best is a sweet memory
B/G# B/F#
It's a new path that we trod
E/E D#/F#
They say low wages are a reality
C#/C#m7 F#/F#7
If we want to compete abroad
B B/A#
My cruel weapons have been put on the shelf
B/G# B/F#
Come sit down on my knee
E/E B/D#
You are dearer to me than myself
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
As you yourself can see
B B/A#
While I'm listening to the steel rails hum
B/G# B/F#
Got both eyes tight shut
E/E B/D#
Just sitting here trying to keep the hunger from
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Creeping it's way into my gut
Chorus:
E B
Meet me at the bottom, don't lag behind
C#m B
Bring me my boots and shoes
E B
You can hang back or fight your best on the frontline
C#m F#7 B
Sing a little bit of these workingman's blues
B B/A#
Well, I'm sailin' on back, ready for the long haul
B/G# B/F#
Tossed by the winds and the seas
E/E B/D#
I'll drag 'em all down to hell and I'll stand 'em at the wall
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
I'll sell 'em to their enemies
B B/A#
I'm tryin' to feed my soul with thought
B/G# B/F#
Gonna sleep off the rest of the day
E/E B/D#
Sometimes no one wants what we got
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Sometimes you can't give it away
B B/A#
Now the place is ringed with countless foes
B/G# B/F#
Some of them may be deaf and dumb
E/E B/D#
No man, no woman knows
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
The hour that sorrow will come
B B/A#
In the dark I hear the night birds call
B/G# B/F#
I can feel a lover's breath
E/E B/D#
I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Sleep is like a temporary death
(repeat chorus)
B B/A#
Well, they burned my barn, and they stole my horse
B/G# B/F#
I can't save a dime
E/E B/D#
I got to be careful, I don't want to be forced
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Into a life of continual crime
B B/A#
I can see for myself that the sun is sinking
B/G# B/F#
How I wish you were here to see
E/E B/D#
Tell me now, am I wrong in thinking
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
That you have forgotten me?
B B/A#
Now they worry and they hurry and they fuss and they fret
B/G# B/F#
They waste your nights and days
E/E B/D#
Them I will forget
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
But you I'll remember always
B B/A#
Old memories of you to me have clung
B/G# B/F#
You've wounded me with your words
E/E B/D#
Gonna have to straighten out your tongue
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
It's all true, everything you've heard
(repeat chorus)
B B/A#
In you, my friend, I find no blame
B/G# B/F#
Wanna look in my eyes, please do
E/E B/D#
No one can ever claim
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
That I took up arms against you
B B/A#
All across the peaceful sacred fields
B/G# B/F#
They will lay you low
E/E B/D#
They'll break your horns and slash you with steel
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
I say it so it must be so
B B/A#
Now I'm down on my luck and I'm black and blue
B/G# B/F#
Gonna give you another chance
E/E B/D#
I'm all alone and I'm expecting you
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
To lead me off in a cheerful dance
B B/A#
I got a brand new suit and a brand new wife
B/G# B/F#
I can live on rice and beans
E/E B/D#
Some people never worked a day in their life
C#m7/C# F#7/F#
Don't know what work even means
(repeat chorus)