Capo 1
[Intro]
Dm Dm A7 Dm Dm
[Verse]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
A7 Dm Am Dm
Saying, "This land is condemned
A7 C G
All the way from New Orleans
Bb C Dm Am Dm
To Jerusalem."
A7 Dm Am Dm
I traveled through East Texas
A7 Dm Am Dm
Where many martyrs fell
A7 C G
And I know no one can sing the blues
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
A7 Dm Am Dm
As they were taking down the tents
A7 C G
The stars above the barren trees
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Were his only audience
A7 Dm Am Dm
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
A7 Dm Am Dm
Can strut their feathers well
A7 C G
But nobody can sing the blues
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
See them big plantations burning
A7 Dm Am Dm
Hear the cracking of the whips
A7 C G
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
Bb C Dm
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
A7 Dm Am Dm
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
A7 Dm
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
A7 C G
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
There's a woman by the river
A7 Dm Am Dm
With some fine young handsome man
A7 C G
He's dressed up like a squire
Bb C Dm
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
A7 Dm Am Dm
There's a chain gang on the highway
A7 Dm Am Dm
I can hear them rebels yell
A7 C G
And I know no one can sing the blues
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Verse]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
Well, God is in heaven
A7 Dm Am Dm
And we all want what's his
A7 C G
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Bb C Dm
Seem to be all that there is
A7 Dm Am Dm
I'm gazing out the window
A7 Dm Am Dm
Of the St. James Hotel
A7 C G
And I know no one can sing the blues
Bb C Dm Am Dm
Like Blind Willie McTell
[Coda]
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
Dm A7 C G Bb C Dm Am Dm
Dm A7 Dm Am Dm Dm A7 Dm Am Dm
Dm A7 C G Bb C Dm