“Dear Sarah”
by Scott Miller
and the Commonwealth
Key A (Capo 2)
4/4 (very fast)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intro:
1, 2, 3, (wait 1 beat)
G G
e|------------------|
B|------------------|
G|-------0h2-0------|
D|-----0------------|
A|---2---------3----|
E|-3-------------2h3| G
Verse 1:
G C G
Dear Sarah I’m stuck on a train bound for Richmond.
C G D
We marched down from Kernstown uphill all the way.
G C G
At the train stop in Staunton, we pulled up and climbed on
C G D G
Then we just sat there for a night and a day.
Chorus:
G D G
And the nights are long, but I write you ev’ry day.
D G
And I hum a song that you used to sing.
C G
The one of sweet William his love, Barbara Allen
C G D G
And how she was always a long ways away.
G
Verse 2:
G C G
My insides are all torn from hard tack and parch corn.
C G D
My hat flew in a windstorm so the sun has turned me red.
G C G
The first chance to lie still I pull out your Bible
C G D G
But fall fast asleep before one verse is read.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 3:
G C G
Dear Sarah in parting keep me in your heart.
C G D
I do not drink or gamble ‘cause I promised you I’d do.
G C G
So as not to mislead you I did have a need to
C G D G
When we were surrounded and looked like we were through.
(Repeat Chorus)
Tag:
G C G
The one of sweet William, his love Barbara Allen
C G D G
And how she was always a long ways away.
Ending:
G C G D G
In Scarlet Town, I did dwell. There was a fair maid a-dwellin’.
C G D G
Many a lad, cried well today, for the love Barbara Allen.
G
Outro:
G
e|-----0---|
B|-----0---|
G|-----0---|
D|-0---0---|
A|---2-2---|
E|-----3---|