__________________________________________________________________ ____ White Mansions A tale from the American Civil War 1861-1865 __________________________________________________________________ ____ What is it? A concept album (1978 release: A&M LP 6004) of songs, accompanied by a
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Polly has a premonition in which she sees the collapse and destruction of the "Old South" reflected in the face of a white haired gentleman planter. Her song acts as a preface to the
story.
Story To Tell - Polly (Jessi) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
At first, the drifter warns of the pressures on the South from the "civilized" North. Then, realizing the
severity of a move to split the United States into two totally separate commonwealths, which would
have destroyed the strength of America, he advises caution and debate. But finally, his good sense
withers under the strain of his Southern spirit and in the final verse he offers up "fighting talk."
Dixie, Hold On - The Drifter (Waylon) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
Matthew, like the majority of young men at the time, is caught up in the wave of excitement that sweeps the South
following the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, the last remaining Union Army post in the newly formed
Confederacy. He exudes enthusiasm for his "new country" and its President Jefferson Davis and urges everyone
to join in the bold adventure and support the secession of the Southern states from the Union.
in Georgia where 14,000 Union prisoners died of malnutrition and disease, partly through horrible mismanagement, and partly due to lack of
food and medical supplies available in the Confederacy. It was time to quit, but foolishly they would not until April of the following year.
The Southland's Bleeding - The Drifter (Waylon) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
By March 1865, the Armies of the South were shattered. Badly armed, poorly provisioned and undermanned, Lee's bedraggled forces
were smashed as Grant tore through them at Petersburg, Virginia. Richmond, the Confederate capital, and Petersburg were abandoned (as was Atlanta, Georgia) by the fleeing Southerners, and the exhausted Army of Northern Virginia under Lee was foiled in its escape to North Carolina by General Sheridan at Sayler's
Creek.
Meanwhile, further south, Union General Sherman had outwitted General Hood and had mercilessly driven through Georgia and South Carolina bringing Dixie to
its knees. Lee saw that there was no hope for his starving and depleted army and so, on April 19th, he surrendered to Ulysses Grant at the Virginia village of Appomattox Court
House. The total collapse of the Confederacy rapidly followed with General Johnston's
surrender to Sherman and the capture of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States.
Prior to the surrender we find the exhausted Matthew hopelessly ordering up twelve pound artillery that no longer exists, in a vain attempt to hold on.
Matthew is replied to by the ghosts of the Confederate dead. The war had come to and end, but the cost was still to be counted.
Bring Up The Twelve Pounders - Matthew (John) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
When Caleb, Matthew, and the Drifter return to their homes in the South after the surrender, they see the devastation that was brought to Georgia a few months before the end of the war by Sherman's March to the Sea. This was a move
designed to knock the wind out of the South and was enforced with unnecessary relish.
On April 14th, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was tragically assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Southern fanatic. Lincoln's death was a great loss
to the defeated Confederacy because he had planned the reconstruction of the Union with "malice toward none" and "charity for all."
They Laid Waste To Our Land - Caleb (Steve), Matthew (John), & The Drifter (Waylon) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
Lincoln freed the slaves in his proclamation of January 1, 1863. Of course, this was ignored by the Confederacy and only made them fight
still more fiercely because emancipation meant the economic destruction of a society based on cotton production. It did, however, spur the North on with
the feeling of a moral crusade. In the end, when the Negro slaves were set free at the end of the war, they were disillusioned. Some loyalty stayed with their
former masters but most of the 3,500,000 left the plantations, many of the heading for the haven of the North. Agricultural production and property
values were halved by this exodus and poverty and hunger became widespread in the South.
In setting about the reconstruction, U.S. President Andrew Johnson gave each former Confederate State a new governor charged to call a convention
to disband slavery and secession, made up of Southerners who had quickly pledged allegiance to the Union. They elected State Governments who
passed "Black Codes" which gave certain rights to Negroes regarding education and property, but not the right to vote. The free slaves were given very
poor jobs and most certainly were still not treated as equals. For the most part, these unfortunate people were, in fact, no better off and in many
cases their conditions were worse because they were no longer fed and cared for by their old masters. Thousands lived as virtual "slaves" in the Northern
factories and no real effort was made to integrate them with the whites. But bondage is the most odious state for a human being to be in,
and however rocky the road at the beginning of freedom, it was a completely worthwhile journey. Obviously, the
"great jubilee of the unshackling of the chains" was met with tremendous joy by these Southern Negroes.
Sickened by the sights he has seen and his own callous attitude to life, Caleb finds solace from the scriptures. Although he came from the humblest of backgrounds, the Bible was to be found in his home. Indeed his mother often read it to him as a
child and whatever lessons he had picked up from it would have been the closest he came to any formal education. Now he finds a new interest in the
teachings of the Lord, and goes from town to town preaching "fire and brimstone" sermons - It is possible, however, that his taking up "the cloth" has not necessarily
cured him of his drinking habits.
The King Has Called Me Home - Caleb (Steve) (lyrics) (chords)
__________________________________
When Matthew returns to Georgia after the surrender he finds that nothing of his former life remains. His fine plantation home has been razed
to the ground, those members of his family that are still alive have fled to avoid persecution, but worst of all, his darling Polly has died,
the victim of an epidemic disease which killed thousands. Matthew is shattered.
Around him, Dixie is in hopeless turmoil. Poverty and sickness are rife amongst the Southerners. The State governments set up by President Johnson
have been disbanded by Congress and replaced by a Military Government and Army of Occupation. Greed and corruption are abundant in people with official
positions, and Northerners vindictively humble the "rebels." Carpetbaggers exploit those who due to privation, excessive taxation and general misfortune
have to sell their property, land, and valuables at a pittance.
It was for for men like Matthew, who had lived a "privileged" life, to accept and harder still since many of them had
nothing left to lose. The laws were often unfair - Mathew driven by a deep hate chooses to live outside of them.
Lyrics sung by Polly (Jessi Colter) __________________________________________________________________
there is a tear, old man
on your face and your hands are shaking
is it fear, old man
or just a trace of hatred awakening?
you've a story to tell
and you tell it so well
but the story is not in the lines on a page,
the story is in the lines on your face
this is the world, old man
for which your worked and loved with passion
a cultured pearl, old man
that your heart and hands helped to fashion
they want to change your way of life
a life you thought was right
all you've held dear since birth, they'll rearrange
but I don't think you're going to live to see the change
(ORCHESTRAL ENDING)
C G D (INTRO) D there is a tear, old man C G A on your face and your hands are shaking D is it fear, old man C G A or just a trace of hatred awakening? G A you've a story to tell D G and you tell it so well A D but the story is not in the lines on a page, C G D the story is in the lines on your face this is the world, old man C G A for which your worked and loved with passion D a cultured pearl, old man C G A that your heart and hands helped to fashion
G A they want to change your way of life D G a life you thought was right A D all you've held dear since birth, they'll rearrange C G D but I don't think you're going to live to see the change C G D (repeat) (ORCHESTRAL ENDING)
Lyrics sung by The Drifter (Waylon Jennings) ____________________________________________________________________________________
oh Dixie, watch this black cloud roll
she's coming down to tear away your soul
how much longer can you pretend
that your plough ain't threatened by their pen
hold on - oh, oh, oh Dixie hold on
to stand alone and cut America in two
means everything's lost, the constitution's fallen through
to leave the Union is to weaken what is strong
you think it right, they think it morally wrong
but you'll fall - oh, oh, oh Dixie you'll fall
King Cotton, your reign is shadowed with pain
and burning emotion
you need slaves to keep alive
but the North could help you survive
your misguided notion
(GUITARS & HARP)
oh, oh Dixie, you are bold and strong
you could have 'em beat before too long
you have a birthright, a lifestyle to defend
you must hold on, until the very end
hold on - oh, oh, oh Dixie, hold on
G (INTRO) G F oh Dixie, watch this black cloud roll C she's coming down to tear away your soul G F how much longer can you pretend C that your plough ain't threatened by their pen G Am C G hold on - oh, oh, oh Dixie hold on G F to stand alone and cut America in two C means everything's lost, the constitution's fallen
through G F to leave the Union is to weaken what is strong C you think it right, they think it morally wrong G Am C G but you'll fall - oh, oh, oh Dixie you'll fall Am D King Cotton, your reign is shadowed with pain G and burning emotion Am D you need slaves to keep alive but the North could help you survive G your misguided notion (GUITARS & HARP) G F C G F C G Am C G G F oh, oh Dixie, you are bold and strong C you could have 'em beat before too long G F you have a birthright, a lifestyle to defend C you must hold on, until the very end
G Am C G hold on - oh, oh, oh Dixie, hold on Am C G
Lyrics sung by Matthew (John Dillon) ____________________________________________________________________________________
the State's called its sons to its side, boys
they're hoisting up the 'Stars and the Bars'
we must all prepare to fight
for a cause we feel is right
and join Jeff Davis from near and far
they can't understand our way of life boys
they don't want slaves in the new territories
the knowledge that they lack
is there's no cotton if there's no blacks
and that gives us the reason to secede
come out of the meadows and plantations
come away from the shores down by the sea
join under the flag
with your musket and your bag
we got to break ties with the North to be free
since Abe got elected there ain't no choice, boys
we showed 'em what we meant when Sumter fell
and if they to try to take us back
or come and free the blacks
the good Lord knows we're going to give 'em hell
come out of the meadows and plantations
come away from the shores down by the sea
join under the flag
with your musket and your bag
we got to break ties with the North to be free
come out of the meadows and plantations
come away from the shores down by the sea
join under the flag
with your musket and your bag
we got to break ties with the North to be free
(spoken)
hell, I never did like them Yankees anyhow
always looking down their noses at us, like
they were something special
goddammit, this thing'll be over in ten weeks time anyhow
we're going to whip their ass, show 'em we can live on our own
A (INTRO) E A
the State's called its sons to its side, boys E A they're hoisting up the 'Stars and the Bars' A E we must all prepare to fight A D for a cause we feel is right A E A and join Jeff Davis from near and far A E A
they can't understand our way of life boys E A they don't want slaves in the new territories E the knowledge that they lack A D is there's no cotton if there's no blacks A E A a a b c# and that gives us the reason to secede D A
come out of the meadows and plantations D A come away from the shores down by the sea
E join under the flag A D with your musket and your bag A E A we got to break ties with the North to be free A E A
since Abe got elected there ain't no choice, boys E A we showed 'em what we meant when Sumter fell A E and if they to try to take us back A D or come and free the blacks A E A a a b c#
the good Lord knows we're going to give 'em hell D A
come out of the meadows and plantations D A come away from the shores down by the sea E join under the flag A D with your musket and your bag A E A a g f# e we got to break ties with the North to be free D A
come out of the meadows and plantations
D A come away from the shores down by the sea E join under the flag A D with your musket and your bag A E A we got to break ties with the North to be free
A
(spoken)
hell, I never did like them Yankees anyhow
always looking down their noses at us, like they were something special
goddammit, this thing'll be over in ten weeks time anyhow
we're going to whip their ass, show 'em we can live on our own
Lyrics sung by Caleb (Steve Cash) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(SLIDE GUITAR INTRO)
you heard how the South is said to be graceful
white mansions, live oaks and velvet lawns
the ladies and the gentlemen dress most tasteful
'course it jest depends into whose hands you was born
they call me white trash 'cause my hair hangs long
my ragged pants got no buttons on
my teeth are black and my shoulders sag
but I fly - the Confederate flag
I bin told there's a war that's about to begin
it's going' to get meaner than a Texas high wind
so come on Caleb, you're a man to join in
when you're fighting Yankees - a redneck's a man's best friend
(SLIDE GUITAR SOLO)
well, I drink lots of corn and I know where to find my sugar
but I guess I'll volunteer for the war against the blue
'cause there ain't nothing down here to do that's much better
I'll break some blue belly bones before this thing is through
they call me white trash but I'm a fighting man
I'll sure do the best I can
I may be bad and have a foul mouth
but I'm ready - to defend the South
(spoken)
I'll show 'em what white trash is
come and get it
come on and get it
I said come and get yours
come on
come and get yours now
(SLIDE GUITAR SOLO)
A (SLIDE GUITAR INTRO) E you heard how the South is said to be graceful D B white mansions, live oaks and velvet lawns A E
the ladies and the gentlemen dress most tasteful G D E 'course it jest depends into whose hands you was born A D they call me white trash 'cause my hair hangs long A D my ragged pants got no buttons on A D my teeth are black and my shoulders sag D Dsus4 D Dsus4 A but I fly - the Confederate flag F#m B I bin told there's a war that's about to begin F#m B it's going' to get meaner than a Texas high wind F#m B so come on Caleb, you're a man to join in E when you're fighting Yankees - a redneck's a man's best friend A D (repeat 6x) (SLIDE GUITAR SOLO) A E well, I drink lots of corn and I know where to find my sugar D B but I guess I'll volunteer for the war against the blue
A E 'cause there ain't nothing down here to do that's much better G D E I'll break some blue belly bones before this thing is through A D they call me white trash but I'm a fighting man A D I'll sure do the best I can A D I may be bad and have a foul mouth D Dsus4 D Dsus4 A D but I'm ready - to defend the South A D (repeat until ending) I'll show 'em what white trash is
(SLIDE GUITAR SOLO) come and get it come on and get it I said come and get yours come on come and get yours now
When you see the A and D chords during the slide solos, you can play them like the following.
A D 1-|| ----------------------------------------- 2-|| -------------------------------------3--- 3-|| -2--2--2--2---2--2--2--2-------------2--- 4-|| -2--2--2--2---2--2--2--2-------------4--- 5-|| -0--0--3--0---0--0--3--0----2--3--4--0--- 6-|| -----------------------------------------
Play the D chord with your first finger pressing the strings on the second fret (just like the A chord) and place your second and third fingers down on the second and fourth strings. You can picture the D chord as this (fingers on left, frets on right):
Lyrics sung by Matthew (John Dillon) & Polly (Jessi Colter) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(ORCHESTRAL INTRO)
the ladies they glide, through the ballrooms they ride
with the young men hard at their heels
they know how to tease, they know how to please
but you're they only one who knows how love feels
would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends
there's no more time
would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close
just one more time
as the orchestra plays, I watch you amazed
at the grace of your step and your poise
it grieves me inside to know I'll soon ride
and leave you lost in the laughter and noise
would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends
there's no more time
would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close
just one more time
your regiment is leaving Georgia
you must join them right away
your orders are to ride to Centerville
and engage without delay
but before you turn your back on me
before you finally go
there are some things that I must give to you
some things that you should know
I'll send a Kentucky racehorse
with a rider and a prayer
to speed my words of love to you
so you'll know that I still care
I'd pay a king's ransom
and I'd live on cornbread too
just to keep your precious smile alive
and to live my life with you
for the time you'll be away from me
all the days that lie ahead
dear heart, please keep the memories
we share like we share my bed
although I won't have your helping hand
or keep your sweet company
darling when you're fighting this war
please think a little bit about me
I'll send a Kentucky racehorse
with a rider and a prayer
to speed my words of love to you
so you'll know that I still care
your carriage awaits with its horses at the gates
to take you home to your mansion so grand
where in comfort you'll stay, safe from the fray
till I return to ask for your hand
would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends
there's no more time
would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close
just one more time
would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends
there's no more time
would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close
just one more time
(ORCHESTRAL ENDING)
A D A D A E D A A E D A (ORCHESTRAL INTRO) A D A D (PIANO) A D the ladies they glide, through the ballrooms they ride A D with the young men hard at their heels A D they know how to tease, they know how to please A D but you're the only one who knows how love feels A E would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends D A there's no more time A E would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close D A
just one more time A D as the orchestra plays, I watch you amazed A D at the grace of your step and your poise A D it grieves me inside to know I'll soon ride A D and leave you lost in the laughter and noise A E would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends D A there's no more time A E would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close D A just one more time A (finger pickin')
A D your regiment is leaving Georgia A D you must join them right away A D your orders are to ride to Centerville E
and engage without delay A D but before you turn your back on me A D before you finally go A D there are some things that I must give to you E some things that you should know D I'll send a Kentucky racehorse A with a rider and a prayer A to speed my words of love to you E A so you'll know that I still care E I'd pay a king's ransom B E and I'd live on cornbread too E just to keep your precious smile alive B E and to live my life with you
A D for the time you'll be away from me A D all the days that lie ahead A D dear heart, please keep the memories E we share like we share my bed A D although I won't have your helping hand A D or keep your sweet company A D darling when you're fighting this war E please think a little bit about me D I'll send a Kentucky racehorse A with a rider and a prayer A to speed my words of love to you E A so you'll know that I still care A (PIANO)
A D your carriage awaits with its horses at the gates A D to take you home to your mansion so grand A D where in comfort you'll stay, safe from the fray A D till I return to ask for your hand A E would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends D A there's no more time A E would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close D A just one more time A E would you dance with a friend, for until this war ends D A there's no more time A E would you take this next waltz, would you hold me so close D A just one more time A D A D A D A D
A E D... (ORCHESTRAL ENDING) __________________________________________________________________
__________________
TIP:
When you see the "A (finger pickin') " chords of A and D (when Jessi sings), play the open strings as shown below before you finger-pick the chord to sound like the guitar in the recording:
A D 1-|| --------0-----0-2--- 2-|| ------0-2-------3--- 3-|| --------2-------2--- 4-|| --------2-----0-0--- 5-|| ------0-0----------- 6-|| --------------------
Lyrics sung by Caleb (Steve Cash) ____________________________________________________________________________________
they brought parasols and picnic boxes
dressed like they's hunting foxes
but could nor more fight than fly
they thought at Bull Run they'd put us down
but that ain't quite what they found
now here's the reason why
we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
they got many more men than us
got the arms but not the guts
they ain't the kind to win
we whipped 'em bad at Ball's Bluff
at Wilson's Creek - treated 'em rough
pretty soon they'll give in
we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
sweet spirit of Dixie - just drives us along
like the Mississippi flows - the Southland rolls on and on
(INSTRUMENTAL BREAK)
we got horsemen like you've never seen
gunmen that shoot so mean
farm boys with fists of steel
we've got the finest generals ever known
Jackson stands like a wall of stone
we won't beg and kneel
we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
D (Intro) D they brought parasols and picnic boxes C dressed like they's hunting foxes D G D but could nor more fight than fly D they thought at Bull Run they'd put us down C but that ain't quite what they found D G D now here's the reason why
D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
D they got many more men than us C got the arms but not the guts D G D they ain't the kind to win D we whipped 'em bad at Ball's Bluff C at Wilson's Creek - treated 'em rough
D G D pretty soon they'll give in
D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, doing well right now G A D sweet spirit of Dixie - just drives us along F C G D like the Mississippi flows - the Southland rolls on and on D C D G D D C D G D (INSTRUMENTAL BREAK)
D we got horsemen like you've never seen C gunmen that shoot so mean D G D farm boys with fists of steel D we've got the finest generals ever known C Jackson stands like a wall of stone D G D
we won't beg and kneel
D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, doing well right now
D A D C G D we're just Southern boys, raising hell right now
Lyrics sung by The Drifter (Waylon Jennings) & Polly (Jessi Colter) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(INTRO)
two horses were trotting, they pranced and they ran
each one was commanded by a cavalry man
two horses stood grazing where their dead riders lay
a Union mare and a Confederate grey
they nuzzled each other as they teased and had fun
they bathed in the warm rays of the old Southern sun
no more senseless orders for them to obey
so they acted like lovers, this mare and this grey
(INSTRUMENTAL)
now these are such sad times that we're all living in
for killing you brother is the mightiest sin
how happy we'd be if we acted the way
of the Union mare and the Confederate grey
(INSTRUMENTAL)
two horses were trotting, they pranced and they ran
each one was commanded by a cavalry man
two horses stood grazing where their dead riders lay
a Union mare and a Confederate grey
E
(INTRO) E A two horses were trotting, they pranced and they ran E B each one was commanded by a cavalry man E A two horses stood grazing where their dead riders lay E B E a Union mare and a Confederate grey E A
they nuzzled each other as they teased and had fun E B they bathed in the warm rays of the old Southern sun E A no more senseless orders for them to obey E B E so they acted like lovers, this mare and this grey e f# g# A D A D E A D A D E (INSTRUMENTAL) E A
now these are such sad times that we're all living in
E B for killing you brother is the mightiest sin E A how happy we'd be if we acted the way E B E of the Union mare and the Confederate grey e f# g# A D A D E A D A D E (INSTRUMENTAL)
E A two horses were trotting, they pranced and they ran E B each one was commanded by a cavalry man E A two horses stood grazing where their dead riders lay E B E A E a Union mare and a Confederate grey
Lyrics sung by Matthew (John Dillon) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(RAINSTORM & MUSICAL INTRO)
I've needed you from time to time
but never as much as now
I've grabbed some love from the whores in town
but it don't satisfy somehow
I still got the letter you sent last summer
when I fell at Mechanicsville
I guess you don't know when you'll see me again
of if you ever will
it ain't easy, this living off the land
it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand
to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so damn cold
you may've heard of the cost of the Gettysburg loss
well I was there with Lee
and since Vicksburg's gone, it won't take 'em long
to capture Tennessee
sometimes I wonder if we're doing right
and if we're going to win this war
I start to forget just why we're here
and what we're fighting for
it ain't easy, living off the land
it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand
to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so damn cold
Sweet Polly, I've tried to get back to you
to be by your side - but I can't leave now
Grant's army's pushing through
(PICKIN' PIANO, & THUNDER)
they tell you stories of valour and glory
but they ain't near the fact
heroes look bad when all they had
bin eaten by the worms and rats
I hear dying men calling with gangrene crawling
through their flesh and bones
I've seen thousands pleading as they lie bleeding
ain't it time to go back home
it ain't easy, living off the land
it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand
to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so damn cold
G A C7 G G A C7 G
(THUNDERSTORM & MUSICAL INTRO) G A I've needed you from time to time C7 G but never as much as now G A I've grabbed some love from the whores in town C7 G but it don't satisfy somehow G A I still got the letter you sent last summer C7 G when I fell at Mechanicsville G A I guess you don't know when you'll see me again C7 G of if you ever will
D C G it ain't easy, this living off the land D C G it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand C G A C7 G to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so
damn cold
G A you may've heard of the cost of the Gettysburg loss C7 G well I was there with Lee G A and since Vicksburg's gone, it won't take 'em long C7 G to capture Tennessee G A sometimes I wonder if we're doing right C7 G and if we're going to win this war G A I start to forget just why we're here C7 G and what we're fighting for
D C G it ain't easy, living off the land D C G it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand C G A C7 G to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so damn cold
D G D G Sweet Polly, I've tried to get back to you D G C
to be by your side - but I can't leave now D G Grant's army's pushing through
A Bm E A A Bm D E A D (PIANO & THUNDER)
G A they tell you stories of valour and glory C7 G but they ain't near the fact G A heroes look bad when all they had C7 G bin eaten by the worms and rats G A I hear dying men calling with gangrene crawling C7 G through their flesh and bones G A I've seen thousands pleading as they lie bleeding C7 G ain't it time to go back home
D C G it ain't easy, this living off the land D C G it ain't easy, oh how I need your hand C
G A C7 G to hold - God, no one'd believe a summer could be so damn cold G A C7 G D G
When you see the G, A, C7, and G chords, you could play the following part to sound like the piano:
G A C7 C6 C C6 G 1-|| ------------------------------ 2-|| -0---2---1---1---1---1----0--- 3-|| -0---2---3---2---0---2----0--- 4-|| -0---2---2---2---2---2----0--- 5-|| -2---0---3---3---3---3----2--- 6-|| -3------------------------3---
If you play the C7 chord like this (fingers left, frets right):
the key is to use your second finger to press two strings.
When you see this:
D C G it ain't easy, living off the land
The D chord goes between a D and a Dsus4: D Dsus4 D 1-|| -2----3----2---- 2-|| -3----3----3---- 3-|| -2----2----2---- 4-|| -0----0----0---- 5-|| ---------------- 6-|| ----------------
To get to the Dsus4, play a D chord and put your pinkie on the 1st string, 3rd fret.
Lyrics sung by The Drifter (Waylon Jennings) ____________________________________________________________________________________
the Southland's bleeding
the Union's pierced the heart of Dixie
still our Generals are leading
with the courage to set us free
maybe it's time to count up all of the cost
we're just hoping there'll be some changes
wishful thinking, we're headed downhill
they only way now is surrender
but we're fighting still
you know there ain't no real chance
for us to win this
there won't be no victory dance
at the finish
it's just - Southern pride
it's just - stubborn blindness
(GUITAR SOLO)
no young man's adventure
holding on to a fading lifestyle
maybe at first
now it's terror running wild
there's no one willing to lend a helping hand
they say we're foolish and we can't blame them
let's stop this fighting while we can
it takes a brave man, but to end this killing
it takes a braver man
you know there ain't no real chance
for us to win this
there won't be no victory dance
at the finish
it's just - Southern pride
it's just - stubborn blindness
it's just - Southern pride
it's just - stubborn blindness
it's just - Southern pride
it's just - stubborn blindness
it's just - Southern pride
it's just - stubborn blindness
it's just - Southern pride
C (INTRO) C the Southland's bleeding F the Union's pierced the heart of Dixie C still our Generals are leading F with the courage to set us free C E F D maybe it's time to count up all of the cost C G we're just hoping there'll be some changes C F wishful thinking, we're headed downhill C G they only way now is surrender C but we're fighting still
Am F you know there ain't no real chance for us to win this Am F there won't be no victory dance at the finish C F it's just - Southern pride C F
it's just - stubborn blindness C F C G C (GUITAR SOLO)
C no young man's adventure F holding on to a fading lifestyle C maybe at first F now it's terror running wild C E F D there's no one willing to lend a helping hand C G they say we're foolish and we can't blame them C F let's stop this fighting while we can C G it takes a brave man, but to end this killing C it takes a braver man
Am F you know there ain't no real chance for us to win this Am F there won't be no victory dance at the finish C F it's just - Southern pride C F
it's just - stubborn blindness C F it's just - Southern pride C F it's just - stubborn blindness C F it's just - Southern pride C F it's just - stubborn blindness C F it's just - Southern pride C F it's just - stubborn blindness C F it's just - Southern pride
Lyrics sung by Matthew (John Dillon) ____________________________________________________________________________________
bring up the Twelve Pounders!
- all the horses are dead here, sir
bring 'em up by mule then
- all the mules are dead here, sir
well bring 'em up by hand, boys
- all the battery men are dead here, sir
well I need them Twelve Pounders
- there ain't no artillery left here, sir
bring up the Twelve Pounders! G - all the horses are dead here, sir bring 'em up by mule then G - all the mules are dead here, sir well bring 'em up by hand, boys G
- all the battery men are dead here, sir well I need them Twelve Pounders G - there ain't no artillery left here, sir
they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand
from Atlanta to Savannah, they scorched our earth
they stole our corn and wheat, they left no food to eat
they slaughtered all the cattle, took the things of worth
well, we got women and children too
just the same as you
ain't it enough just to know that you got us beat
the hatred will never cease, even now that there's peace
the feelings will run as deep as the scars we bear
this ain't cloth we wear it's a rag, we're at the mercy of the carpetbag
what you call justice is plain unfair
how the hell can you ever claim
it's bin worth all of the pain
just to have us live together under one flag
they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand
(the following is spoken by The Drifter during the rest of the verse)
On November 15, 1864, Gen. Sherman cut out the back of Atlanta with 68,000 hard worn Yankees, he drove 'em down through Georgia to the sea. With hate in their hearts, they moved in a line, cutting a scar through God's Blessed country 50 miles wide. Burning, looting and gutting our land like vultures. They tore up the railroad tracks, they burnt the cotton and the gins, Lord, they made everybody suffer.
(sung)
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
C (INTRO) C F C they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand F C G from Atlanta to Savannah they scorched our earth C F C they stole our corn and wheat, they left no food to eat F C G they slaughtered all the cattle took the things of worth F C well, we got women and children too just the same as you G C ain't it enough just to know that you got us beat C F C the hatred will never cease, even now that there's peace F C G the feelings will run as deep as the scars we bear
C F C this ain't cloth we wear it's a rag, we're at the mercy of the carpetbag F C G what you call justice is plain unfair F how the hell can you ever claim C it's bin worth all of the pain G C just to have us live together under one flag C F C they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand (the following is spoken by The Drifter during the rest of the verse)
On November 15, 1864, Gen. Sherman cut out the back of Atlanta with 68,000 hard worn Yankees, he drove 'em down through Georgia to the sea. With hate in their hearts, they moved in a line, cutting a scar through God's Blessed country 50 miles wide. Burning, looting and gutting our land like vultures. They tore up the railroad tracks, they burnt the cotton and the gins, Lord, they made everybody suffer.
F C G from Atlanta to Savannah they scorched our earth C F C they stole our corn and wheat, they left no food to eat F C G they slaughtered all the cattle took the things of worth F C well, we got women and children too just the same as you
G C ain't it enough just to know that you got us beat C F C F C G oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Lyrics sung by Rodena Preston's "Voices of Deliverance" as The Slaves ____________________________________________________________________________________
sing praise to the Lord, I'm a free man
Massa Abe done take these chains off a me
I will walk all the way to Ohio
'cause the Lord done set me free
B B F# E B E B sing praise to the Lo-ord, I'm a free man B F# B E B Massa Abe done take these cha-ins off a me B F# B E I will walk all the wa-ay to Ohio B B F# E B 'cause the Lord done se-et me free
Lyrics sung by Caleb (Steve Cash) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(GUITAR INTRO)
I've bin living like a dog for the last four years
and the maggots bin eating at my bones
I've bin burning up my body with drinking
and I can't leave them women alone
every man gets sick deep down when he looks inside himself
so he turns toward the outside
just to disregard his hell
but I've found salvation, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
(HARP SOLO)
when the only guts and brains that you've got
are the ones that are stuck to your boot
and you're riding like hell through Virginny
just to find somebody to shoot
your start to feel disgusted about the bones you busted
and the sight of leaking spleens
well my mind got numb, so I put down my gun
and turned to the Nazarene
I've found salvation, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
I've found salvation, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home
I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
I've found salvation, the King has called me home
B (GUITAR INTRO) I've bin living like a dog for the last four years E B and the maggots bin eating at my bones I've bin burning up my body with drinking
F# B and I can't leave them women alone E B every man gets sick deep down when he looks inside himself so he turns toward the outside F# B just to disregard his hell E B but I've found salvation, the King has called me home F# B I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home E B and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home F# B I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home B E B B F# B B E B B F# B (HARP SOLO)
B (GUITAR BREAK)
when the only guts and brains that you've got E B are the ones that are stuck to your boot
and you're riding like hell through Virginny F# B just to find somebody to shoot your start to feel disgusted about the bones you busted E B and the sight of leaking spleens well my mind got numb, so I put down my gun F# B and turned to the Nazarene E B but I've found salvation, the King has called me home F# B I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home E B and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home F# B I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home Eb E B but I've found salvation, the King has called me home C# F# I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home B E B and I don't need no one now, the King has called me home F# B I know where I'm going now, the King has called me home
Lyrics sung by Matthew (John Dillon) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(WIND & A GALLOPING HORSE)
the poster on the wall tells me I'm a bad man
tells me I'm a mad man
tells me I'm a wanted man
the one who makes me fall will be such a glad man
five thousand dollars in his hand
makes me such a hunted man
they left me with a Navy colt
a heart that's bitter and a spirit that's broke
got to steal from the railroads, steal from the banks
take it all back from the thieving Yanks
just to keep alive
they only way I can survive
(MUSICAL BREAK)
the newspapers call me desperado
a man who lives real low
well, how the hell would they know
what it's like to come back and find
your sweetheart dead
your home destroyed and your family fled
all I want is to see blood shed
this war taught me how to kill
a man can only live by his will
put a gun in your hand, mask on your face
crawl through life, live in disgrace
try to settle the score
remember what I had before
Polly, forgive me
but you died at their hands
goin' to make them pay
take all that I can
your dying eyes
haunt my mind
going' to make them bleed
they'll pay in time
they're damned unjust
with their twisted laws
they want to take my life
but they could've saved yours
your dying eyes
haunt my mind
A D (4 times) (WIND & A GALLOPING HORSE) A G the poster on the wall tells me I'm a bad man D E tells me I'm a mad man A tells me I'm a wanted man A G the one who makes me fall will be such a glad man D E five thousand dollars in his hand A makes me such a hunted man E
they left me with a Navy colt E/G# A a heart that's bitter and a spirit that's broke E/G# got to steal from the railroads, steal from the banks A take it all back from the thieving Yanks E just to keep alive
Bm D they only way I can survive A G D E A A G D E A (ACOUSTIC GUITAR SOLO) A G
the newspapers call me desperado D E a man who lives real low A well, how the hell would they know A what it's like to come back and find G your sweetheart dead D E your home destroyed and your family fled A all I want is to see blood shed
E this war taught me how to kill E/G# A a man can only live by his will E/G# put a gun in your hand, mask on your face A crawl through life, live in disgrace E try to settle the score
Bm D remember what I had before
G D G D Polly, forgive me G D but you died at their hands G D goin' to make them pay G D take all that I can G D your dying eyes G D haunt my mind G D going' to make them bleed G D they'll pay in time G D they're damned unjust G D with their twisted laws G D they want to take my life G D but they could've saved yours G D your dying eyes