Blind Willie McTell

[Intro]

One, two, three, four

[Verse 1]

Seen the arrow on the doorpost

Saying, “This land is condemned"

All the way from New Orleans

To Jerusalem

I traveled through East Texas

Where many martyrs fell

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 2]

Well, I heard that hoot owl singin'

As they were taking down the tents

The stars above the barren trees

Were his only audience

Them charcoal gypsy maidens

Can strut their feathers wеll

But nobody can sing the blues

Like Blind Williе McTell

[Verse 3]

See them big plantations a-burnin'

Hear the cracking of the whips

Smell that sweet magnolia blooming

See the ghosts of slavery ships

I can hear them tribes a-moanin'

Hear that undertaker's bell

Nobody can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 4]

There's a woman by the river

With some fine young handsome man

He's dressed up like a squire

Bootlegged whiskey in his hand

There's a chain gang on the highway

I can hear them rebels yell

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 5]

Well, God is in His heaven

And we all want what's His

But power and greed and corruptible seed

Seem to be all that there is

I'm gazing out the window

Of the St. James Hotel

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell

[Outro]

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell