Joe Ely (born February 9, 1947) is an Austin, Texas, honky-tonk/country musician. Ely, born in Amarillo, spent his formative years from age 12 in Lubbock, Texas.
Shortly after high school, in 1970, with fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, he formed The Flatlanders. According to Ely, "Jimmie was like a well of country music. He knew everything about it. And Butch was from the folk world. I was kinda the rock & roll guy, and we almost had a triad.
Four years of hard work!This month of May we celebrated four years on the air. We continue working on the dissemination of this wonderful instrument, thank you for participating in our story!
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Date: 10/24/96; 8:56:00 AM From: "Krall, Steve" Subject: Joe Ely: Whenever Kindness Fails
Whenever Kindness Fails as performed by Joe Ely appearing on the album, Love and Danger originally written by Robert Earl Keen, Jr. Transcribed by Steve Krall ([email protected])
Whenever Kindness Fails
Capo 3rd Fret!!
Intro: DBmDBm
Verse 1:
DBm Crossed the desert in a dining car DBm In the spring of '91 DBm Met some people drinkin' at the bar, A They were laughin', havin' fun
Told 'em that I hadn't heard the joke That was so hilarious They said that I was just a dumb cowpoke I didn't want to make a fuss
Chorus:
GA So I shot them down, one by one DG And left them 'long the rails D I only use my gun ABm Whenever kindness fails
Verse 2:
Moon was in the sign of Scorpio The sun was at my back I didn't know how far the train would go Till the law would find my track
Saw the brakeman and the engineer Drinking wine and eating brie I asked them who would brake and who would steer They started pointing back at me
Chorus
Solo: Repeat chords in chorus
Verse 3:
I only have a momment to explain Just a chance to let you know When it's time to board that train There are 2 ways you can go.
You can ride the wind into the sun Feel a cool wind on your face Or you can laugh into a loaded gun And you'll likely lose your place
Chorus: Yeah I shot them down, one by one And left them 'long the rails I only use my gun Whenever kindness fails
I shot them down, one by one And left them 'long the rails When I use my gun That lonesome whistle wails