Intro
Gm Gm D7 Gm Gm
[Verse]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Saying, "This land is condemned
D7 F C
All the way from New Orleans
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
To Jerusalem."
D7 Gm Dm Gm
I traveled through East Texas
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Where many martyrs fell
D7 F C
And I know no one can sing the blues
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
D7 Gm Dm Gm
As they were taking down the tents
D7 F C
The stars above the barren trees
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Were his only audience
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Can strut their feathers well
D7 F C
But nobody can sing the blues
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
See them big plantations burning
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Hear the cracking of the whips
D7 F C
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
Eb F Gm
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
D7 Gm Dm Gm
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
D7 Gm
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
D7 F C
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
There's a woman by the river
D7 Gm Dm Gm
With some fine young handsome man
D7 F C
He's dressed up like a squire
Eb F Gm
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
D7 Gm Dm Gm
There's a chain gang on the highway
D7 Gm Dm Gm
I can hear them rebels yell
D7 F C
And I know no one can sing the blues
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
Well, God is in heaven
D7 Gm Dm Gm
And we all want what's his
D7 F C
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Eb F Gm
Seem to be all that there is
D7 Gm Dm Gm
I'm gazing out the window
D7 Gm Dm Gm
Of the St. James Hotel
D7 F C
And I know no one can sing the blues
Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Coda]
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
Gm D7 F C Eb F Gm Dm Gm
Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm Gm D7 Gm Dm Gm
Gm D7 F C Eb F Dm