[Intro]
[Dm] [Dm] [A7] [Dm] [Dm]
[Verse]
Seen the a[Dm]rrow on[A7] the doorpost[Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Saying, "This land[A7]land is conde[Dm]condemned [Am] [Dm]
All the [A7]way from N[C]New Orleans[G]Orleans
[Bb]To Jer[C]Jerusalem." [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
I traveled[A7]traveled through East Texa[Dm]Texas [Am] [Dm]
Where many [A7]martyrs fell[Dm]fell [Am] [Dm]
And I know no[A7]no one can [C]sing the bl[G]blues
Lik[Bb]Like Blind Willie[C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[Verse]
Well, I [Dm]heard the h[A7]hoot owl singing [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
As they were ta[A7]taking down the te[Dm]tents [Am] [Dm]
The stars ab[A7]ove the ba[C]rren trees[G]
Were his[Bb]his only [C]audience[Dm]audience [Am] [Dm]
Them charcoal[A7]charcoal gypsy [Dm]maidens [Am] [Dm]
Can strut their[A7] feathers w[Dm]ell[Am] [Dm]
But nobod[A7]nobody can s[C]sing the blues [G]
Like[Bb]Like Blind Willie[C]Willie McTell [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
[Verse]
[Dm]See them b[A7]big plantations b[Dm]burning [Am] [Dm]
Hear the [A7]cracking of the wh[Dm]whips [Am] [Dm]
Smell that sweet [A7]magnolia [C]blooming [G]
(And) see the [Bb]ghosts of [C]slavery sh[Dm]ships
I can hear them [A7]tribes a-mo[Dm]a-moaning [Am] [Dm]
(I can) hear the und[A7]undertaker's [Dm]bell
(Yeah), no[A7]body can sin[C]g the b[G]lues
[Bb]Like Blind Wi[C]Willie McTel[Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[Verse]
There's a [Dm]woman[A7]woman by the river[Dm]river [Am] [Dm]
With some fi[A7]fine young handsome m[Dm]man [Am] [Dm]
He's dressed up l[A7]like a squire [C] [G]
[Bb]Bootlegged w[C]whiskey in his hand[Dm]hand
There's a chain gang[A7]gang on the highwa[Dm]highway [Am] [Dm]
I can he[A7]ar them rebels y[Dm]ell[Am] [Dm]
And I know no o[A7]ne c[C]an sing the b[G]lues
[Bb]Like Blind[C]Blind Willie McTel[Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]
[Verse]
Well, [Dm]God is i[A7]in heaven[Dm]heaven [Am] [Dm]
And we al[A7]all want what's h[Dm]his [Am] [Dm]
But power and g[A7]reed and corr[C]uptible seed[G]
[Bb]Seem to be al[C]all that there i[Dm]is
I'm gazing o[A7]out the window [Dm] [Am] [Dm]
Of the St. [A7]James Hote[Dm]Hotel [Am] [Dm]
And I know no[A7]no one [C]can sing the [G]blues
[Bb]Like Blind Wi[C]Willie McT[Dm]McTell [Am] [Dm]