Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 1]

Seen the arrow on the door post

Sayin', "This land is condemned"

All the way from New Orleans

To Jerusalem

I traveled through East Texas

Where many martyrs fell

And I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 2]

Well, I heard the hoot-owl singing

As they were taking down the tents

The stars above all the barren trees

Were his only audience

Yeah, them charcoal gypsy maidens

Can strut their feathers well

And I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 3]

See them big plantations a-burning

Can't you hear the cracking of the whips

Smell that sweet magnolia blossom blooming

See the ghosts of the slavery ships

Well, I can hear them tribes a-moanin'

I can hear the undertaker's bell

And I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 4]

There's a woman she's standing by the river

She is with some fine young handsome man

See he's all dressed just like a squire

He's got bootleg whiskey in his hand

Yeah, there's a chain-gang out on the highway

And I can hear them rebels yell

And I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[Verse 5]

God, oh God is in Heaven

And we all want what is his

But the power and greed, the corruptible seed

Seems to be all that there is

Hey, hey, I'm a-gazing out the window

Of the St. James Hotel

And I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell

[Refrain]

Hey, hey, I know one thing, nobody can sing

Them blues like Blind Willie McTell