Jericho

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Seen the arrow on the door post saying "this land is condemned"
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Hey, hey, i know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like blind willie mctell.

From outside the open window
How the faithful was gathered to sing
As the tears swelled up inside me
Still down in a mournful rain.

And all sands of time stood still
As the procession climbed the hill
And off in the distance it's a mother run away
The father turned to say

Somebody shine a light, show me the way
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so i can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Lookin' through the open window
I can see where i went wrong.
I quit searching for the rainbow,
I forgot where i belong.

Then the darkness dips around me
And i have no strength to fight
Though i'll search for those who love me
I'll search for the one above me
Just like i said

Somebody shine a light, show me the way,
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so i can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

And all sands of time stood still
As the echo crossed my window sill.
I heard it plain as day, i could hear 'em sing,
I'm trying to find the way,

Somebody shine a light, show me the way
Make it through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so i can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Shine a light, show me the way
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Shine a light so i can see
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Shine a light so i can see
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Now it's so cold in your doorway that i can hardly breathe
You know i wanna lay down but i'm afraid i'll freeze.
I've spent my last lone dollar getting in the shape that i'm in
And runnin' from the border just as fast as they can.
Well, last september i was on a roll
Now i'm out here trying to save my soul.

You've got the cure, you hold the key,
You've got the remedy.
Once i was blind, now i see
You got the remedy.

I believe you got in something just like a stingray
And when you turn on your moves you put the hurt on me.
Well, i might get better but i won't get well
Until i'm over the line and i'm under your spell.
I'm like a spider crawlin' up your wall,
Hear something funny, it's my matin' call.

You've got the cure, you hold the key,
You've got the remedy.
Once i was blind, now i see
You got the remedy.

Been knocking on your window, a-peeking through the blinds
Honey, come here a-runnin', won't you take your time.
And now i ain't no preacher man, i ain't no preacher's son
But i'll be singing hallelujah when i see you come.
I left my mind at the fork in the road
I' m out here haulin' a heavy load.

You've got the cure, you hold the key,
You've got the remedy.
Once i was blind, now i see
You got the remedy.

You've got the cure, you hold the key,
You've got the remedy.
It goes to show
It's plain to see
You got the remedy.

Never gonna kiss those ruby red lips
Of the sweetest girl in town.
I'm never gonna ask her if she'll marry me
'cause i know she'll turn me down.

Because i'm just a country boy
And money have i none
Oh, but i've got silver, silver in the stars
And gold in the morning sun

Never could afford no store-bought ring
With a sparkly diamond stone.
All i have to offer is a love that's true,
It's the only one i own.

And i'm just a country boy
And money, money have i none.
Oh, but i've got silver, silver in the stars
And gold in the morning sun.

Ain't gonna marry in the fall,
Never gonna marry in the spring
'cause i am in love with a pretty little girl
That wears a diamond ring.

And i'm, i'm just a country boy
And money, money have i none.
Oh, but i've got silver, silver in the stars
And gold in the morning sun

Blues stay away from me
Uh-uh-uh, blues why don't you let me be
I don't know why you keep a-hauntin' me.

True love was never meant for me.
True love was never meant for me.
It seems somehow we never can agree.

My life is full of misery
And dreams are like a memory,
They're bringing back your love that used to be.

I got teardrops so many i can't see
And years don't mean a thing to me
But time goes by and still i can't be free.

Uh-uh-uh, blues stay away from me,
You hear me, blues why don't you let me be,
I don't know why you keep a-haunting me,
No, i don't know why you keep a-haunting me,
Oh, i don't know why you keep a-haunting me.

I went on the river for money, i sold my old rotten shack
For a rusty tanker leaking oil, and the burning sun was on my back
Traveled up the ragin' river, i watched the jungle burn
And in the reddenin' twilight, i wondered would i ever return.

Ridin' on a river of dreams,
Broken dreams.
I'm ridin' on a river of dreams.
Amazon, amazon,
Is it heaven or hell?
Amazon.

An eagle flew above us, i felt the breezes blow.
Fish with teeth like ivory, waited down below.
On shore they cut and hammered, and fenced them in with wire.
While ancient fires in the jungle, burned our souls like fire.

Ridin' on a river of dreams,
Somebody's dreams.
I'm ridin' on a river of dreams.
Amazon, amazon,
Is it heaven or hell ?
Amazon.

What kind of creature's gonna rise up from these ashes?
What's gonna fly in the moonlight feathers aglow?
What kind of rain could come in from these sorrows?
Nobody knows, nobody knows.

At dawn we crossed the rapids, a place where few men go.
I felt the desolation, where nothing seemed to grow.
When i got my wages, i hung my head and cried.
I could not stop these visions, that swept in like the tide.

Ridin' on a river of dreams,
Broken dreams.
I'm ridin' on a river of dreams.
Amazon, amazon,
Is it heaven or hell ?
Amazon.

Oh, amazon, amazon, amazon, amazon.

Dm dm7/c g a
They should have known that trouble was brewing
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They should have seen what the old men knew
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They should have shut us down
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When the hail fell to the ground
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From a cloudy sky of baby blue

Three o'clock on a cold, cold morning
The big bell wailed as if on cue.
A woman's scream was heard
And the news came afterwards
"it's a blow out down in number two!"

Dm/b f/c
Down in jericho kentucky
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The mines have all caved in
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Down in jericho
F
Broken hearts don't mend
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Tear stained eyes of kin
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Never ever seen what the future might have been

The hat lamps burned with a flame like lightning
The coal dust blanketed the morning dew.
The young ones looked for kin
And the blind man, he looks grim.
'cause he sees there's nothing that he can do.

They pumped up the mud and they chunked out water,
They scratched the earth till it turned to sand
And a half mile down below
It's a lost cause the miners know
Meet your maker, boys, the time's at hand.

Down in jericho, kentucky
The mines have all caved in
Down in jericho.
Broken hearts don't mend
Tears stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen
What their future might have been.

The fire boss's hands are clean as a whistle
The fat cat knows he's a company man
But he should have bowed down his head
When they hauled out all the dead
But it's business, boys, start 'em up again.

Down in jericho, kentucky
The mines have all caved in
Down in jericho.
Broken hearts don't mend
Tears stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen
What their future might have been.

Broken hearts don't mend
Tears stained eyes of kin
Never ever seen
What their future might have been.