This is mostly the same tab by Harlan L Thompson under Bob Dylan, but for the Redbird version,
I like to tune the e string to F# and keep my fingers on the 3rd fret of the e and B strings at all times
like:
Bm G D A
F#|----------3----3-----3--------|
B|----------3----3-----3--------|
G|----4-----0----2-----2--------|
D|----4-----0----0-----2--------|
A|----2-----2----0-----0--------|
E|----------3-------------------|
If you don't want to tune your guitar down, he hits a note on the e string with the G, D, and A chords on the
5th fret, tuning the e string just makes it easier.
There's also this fill at certain parts of the song in the background:
F#|--1-0-----------| e|---3--2---0--------|
B|-------5---3----| B|-------------3-----|
G|----------------| or G|-------------------|
D|----------------| D|-------------------|
A|----------------| A|-------------------|
E|----------------| E|-------------------|
[Intro]
D
[Verse 1]
Bm G D A
I've been a moonshiner for seventeen long years
Bm G D A
I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer
G A D G
I go to some hollow and set up my still
Bm G D
If whiskey don't kill me
A
Then I don't know what will
Bm G(Fill) D
[Verse 2]
Bm G D A
I go to some barroom and drink with my friends
Bm G D A
Where the women can't follow and see what I spent
G A
God bless them pretty women
D G
How I wish they was mine
Bm G D
Their breath is as sweet as
A
The dew on the vine
Bm G(Fill) D
[Verse 3]
Bm G D
Let me eat when I'm hungry
A
Let me drink when I'm dry
Bm G D
Give me dollars when I'm hard up
A
Religion when I die
G A
The whole world is a bottle
D G
And life's just a dram
Bm D
When a bottle gets empty
A
It sure ain't worth a damn
[Outro]
Bm G(Fill) D