THE BALLAD OF JOHN MCCRAE
(JOSH TURNER/CARSON MCKEE)
Capo 2nd Fret
On the last chorus they let eh Am7 and the Dsus2 ring before going back to the strumming on the G
Enjoy!
[Intro]
Em7 Csus2 G
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
[Verse 1]
Em7 Csus2 G
On the banks of the Missou--ri
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Annie washed up in the clay
Em7 Csus2 G
And they took her to her father
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Told him it was John McCrae
Em7 Csus2 G
Now I'm running through the badlands
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Covering my tracks
Em7 Csus2 G
Northward toward Dakota
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
With the devil on my back
[Chorus]
Am7 Dsus4 G
Oh, the river flows
Am7 Dsus4 G
To our immortal home
(To our immortal home, it flows to our home)
B7 Em7
Oh Annie, oh my soul
[Verse 2]
Em7 Csus2 G
Well I took her down by the stream side
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
For to make that girl my bride
Em7 Csus2 G
But in the folds of her pretty white dress
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Lay her father's bowie knife
Em7 Csus2 G
Well she pulled that steel blade on me
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Told me she would take my life
Em7 Csus2 G
So I pushed her into the ri--ver
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
She went under with the tide
[Chorus]
Am7 Dsus4 G
Oh, the river flows
Am7 Dsus4 G
To our immortal home
(To our immortal home, it flows to our home)
B7 Em7
Oh Annie, oh my soul
[Verse 3]
Em7 Csus2 G
Well the hound dogs they overtook me
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
40 miles past Harding town
Em7 Csus2 G
And I told that young Douglas sherriff
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
"Boy, you'd better shoot me now."
Em7 Csus2 G
He said "Poor Johnny, by my or---ders
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Your life I cannot take
Em7 Csus2 G
But I'll be smiling at your hang-ing
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
When they lay you in the grave."
[Chorus]
Am7 Dsus4 G
Oh, the river flows
Am7 Dsus4 G
To our immortal home
(To our immortal home, it flows to our home)
B7 Em7
Oh Annie, oh my soul
[Solo]
Em7 Csus2 G
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7 (x2)
[Verse 4]
Em7 Csus2 G
I am standing at the gallows
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
And the scaffold it is high
Em7 Csus2 G
And the hangman asked my last words
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
Before I'm condemned to die
Em7 Csus2 G
And I begged God, "Don't forgive me
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
For the troubles I have sown
Em7 Csus2 G
For I'll soon see my pretty Ann---ie
Csus2 Dsus4 Em7
In the hell fire down below."
[Chorus]
Am7 Dsus4 G
Oh, the river flows
Am7 Dsus4 G
To our immortal home
(To our immortal home, it flows to our home)
B7 Em7
Oh Annie, oh my soul
[Outro]
B7 Em7 Csus2 G
Oh Annie, oh my soul
B7 Em7
Oh Annie, oh my soul