Bob Dylan – Tombstone Blues (Guitar)

Capo 2
Key
-
Versions (3)

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Chords

[Intro] E [Verse 1]
    E                          A          E
The sweet pretty things are in bed now of course

    E                    A           E
The city fathers they're trying to endorse

    E                A             E
The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse

        E           A          E
But the town has no need to be nervous

    E                        A              E
The ghost of Belle Starr she hands down her wits

   E                   A         E
To Jezebel the nun she violently knits

  E                     A          E
A bald wig for Jack the Ripper who sits

       E           A          E
At the head of the chamber of commerce
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                      E
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude] E [Verse 2]
      E                     A       E
The hysterical bride in the penny arcade

E                          A         E
Screaming she moans, "I've just been made"

     E                            A              E
Then sends out for the doctor who pulls down the shade

                E          A           E
And says, "My advice is to not let the boys in"

        E                         A          E
Now the medicine man comes and he shuffles inside

   E                           A           E
He walks with a swagger and he says to the bride

 E                      A            E
"Stop all this weeping, swallow your pride

         E        A        E
You will not die, it's not poison"
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                      E
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude] E [Verse 3]
      E                      A           E
Well, John the Baptist after torturing a thief

      E                   A            E
Looks up at his hero, the Commander-in-Chief

         E                       A              E
Saying, "Tell me great hero, but please make it brief

           E        A         E
Is there a hole for me to get sick in?"

    E                          A                   E
The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly

         E                            A           E
Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry"

    E                     A             E
And dropping a barbell he points to the sky

             E         A            E
Saying, "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken"
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                      E
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude] E [Verse 4]
    E                           A           E
The king of the Philistines his soldiers to save

     E                                A              E
Puts jawbones on their tombstones and flatters their graves

         E                         A           E
Puts the pied pipers in prison and fattens the slaves

     E          A          E
Then sends them out to the jungle

      E                         A               E
Gypsy Davey with a blowtorch he burns out their camps

         E                      A           E
With his faithful slave Pedro behind him he tramps

       E            A          E
With a fantastic collection of stamps

   E               A             E
To win friends and influence his uncle
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                 E
I am in troube with the tombstone blues
[Interlude] E [Verse 5]
    E                    A            E
The geometry of innocent flesh on the bone

E                A                E
Causes Galileo's math book to get thrown

   E                     A            E
At Delilah who's sitting worthlessly alone

        E            A               E
But the tears on her cheeks are from laughter

       E                         A              E
Now, I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill

        E                        A          E
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill

     E                             A          E
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille

         E        A       E
He could die happily ever after
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                      E
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude] E [Verse 6]
      E                              A                E
Where Ma Rainey and Beethoven once unwrapped their bedroll

E                          A             E
Tuba players now rehearse around the flagpole

        E                               A                 E
And the National Bank at a profit sells road maps for the soul

       E         A            E
To the old folks home and the college

       E                        A         E
Now, I wish I could write you a melody so plain

           E                       A       E
That could hold you dear lady from going insane

           E                         A         E
That could ease you and cool you and cease the pain

        E           A         E
Of your useless and pointless knowledge
[Chorus]
A                                E
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes

A                          E
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food

A                                      E
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Outro]
E       E
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