Drive-By Truckers – Ever South (Guitar Acoustic)

D Tuning (D-G-C-F-A-D)
Key
-
Versions (2)

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Chords

Tab is based on Patterson Hood's solo acoustic version, as seen in 2016 interview & song video for "The Bitter Southerner" Tune guitar down a full step: D-G-C-f-a-d. Partially mute 1st & 2nd strings for Em7 & D chords. Leave 2nd string open for Em7 chord. [Intro] Em7 D (x2) [Verse 1]
   Em7                              D
We packed our few belongings and we moved across the ocean

    Em7                      D
To start a new life in this land so bold and vast

 Em7                             D
Dispersed from Ellis Island, my distant Irish kin

Em7                      D
Eyes cut to the future, heart's tied to the past
[Solo] Em7 D (x2) [Verse 2]
  Em7                               D
We held tight to our loved ones and we held on to the promise

 Em7                                    D
And we scraped our meager living hand to mouth

 Em7                                    D
We prayed to what would have us, every doubting John Thomas

 Em7                                D
Spread through the Appalachia ever south

 Em7                            D
Spread through Appalachia ever south
[Verse 3]
Em7                                      D
And I hear we weren't welcomed here, at least not in those days

Em7                                    D
No one needs our drunken, fighting, thieving kind

Em7                                     D
But we settled in this new place and we worked it in our ways

 Em7                               D
And spread our kin upon it in due time

 Em7                           D
Spread our kin upon it in due time
[Chorus 1]
       C                 Csus2          G/D    Dsus4  D
And we fought our losing battles and we held onto our ways

 C                   Csus2             G/D        Dsus4  D
And we talk of how we left behind our better days

      C                    Csus2           G/D    Dsus4     D
Some were living lives of leisure, some surviving hand to mouth

 Em7                                     D
Bash our heads against the future, ever south

 Em7                                     D
Bash our heads against the future ever south
[Solo] Em7 D [Verse 4]
       Em7                                  D
When I set my sights upon you, we were both still in our prime

        Em7                            D
We were moving in big circles that I sought out to combine

       Em7                               D
And I held you in my arms and swore eternal love this time

           Em7                             D
Tried to lasso brighter futures and let it drag us both behind

 Em7                              D
Lasso brighter futures and let it drag us both behind
[Solo] Em7 D [Chorus 2]
      C                 Csus2           G/D  Dsus4  D
So we aimed our sights westward like so many did before

 C             Csus2                       G/D  Dsus4  D
Expanding our surroundings to some distant shore

 C                  Csus2           G/D        Csus4      D
Where everyone takes notice of the drawl that leaves our mouth

            Em7                            D
So that no matter where we are we're ever south

Em7                                D
No matter where we are we're ever south
[Solo] Em7 D (x2) [Verse 5]
         Em7                        D
Now my Christian Southern brethren we'll all tell you all what for

              Em7                             D
Leave your heathen ways within you and your shoes outside the door

           Em7                             D
Take your stand for noble causes till you just can't stand no more

      Em7                                 D
And surrender to some savior, Praise the Lord

 Em7                                  D
Surrender to some savior, Praise the Lord
[Solo] Em7 D [Verse 6]
      Em7                            D
But despite our best intentions, it pains me to report

          Em7                             D
We keep swinging for the fences, coming up a little short

   Em7                       D
We sure can get it wrong for someone so devout

           Em7                                  D
I hear you whistling past the graveyard looking down

 Em7                                  D
Whistling past the graveyard looking down
[break] C Csus2 G/D Dsus4 E D (x2) [Chorus 3]
     C              Csus2          G/D           Dsus4  D
Ever Southern in my carriage, ever southern in my stance

       C            Csus2            G/D             Dsus4  D
In the Irish of my complexion and the Scottish in my dance

       C             Csus2           G/D          Dsus4  D
In the way I bang my head against my daily circumstance
[Solo] C Csus2 G/D Dsus4 E D [Chorus 4]
         C                 Csus2           G/D        Dsus4  D
Let this blue eyed southern devil take you out upon the prowl

       C           Csus2        G/D        Dsus4  D
With decadence and charm we'll take it into town

          C            Csus2            G/D           Dsus4  D
Tell you stories of our fathers and the glories of our house

       Em7                          D
Always told a little slower, ever south

       Em7                          D
Always told a little slower, ever south
[Solo] Em7 D (x2)