Justin Townes Earle – They Killed John Henry (Guitar)

Capo 7
Key
-
Versions (2)

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Chords

[Intro] G D G x2 [Verse 1]
           G
Well, when John Henry died he lay lookin' at the sun

        D                            G
He said Lord, take me now my work is done, Lord, Lord

D                           G
Lord take me now my work is done

          G
Yeah, but when they laid him out in that box of pine, boy

     D                       G
They laid that hammer by his side, Lord, Lord

D                       G
Laid that hammer by his side
[Instrumental] G D G [Verse 2]
G
Yeah, and Joe Hill he worked any job he could find, boy

     D                              G
He'd rake your leaves and pick your vine, Lord, Lord

D                              G
Rake your leaves and pick your vine

G
Yeah, and they killed Joe Hill, put a bullet to his name

         D                           G
But that bullet made a martyr of the slain, Lord, Lord

D                           G
Bullet made a martyr of the slain
[Instrumental] G D G [Verse 3]
G
Yeah, and my grand daddy worked his whole damn life

         D                              G
Well, he never saved a nickel though he tried, Lord, Lord

D                              G
Never saved a nickel though he tried

G   
And he died in Tennessee but he couldn't find no rest

          D                        G
With that long road to Texas lyin' ahead, Lord Lord

D                        G
Long road to Texas lyin' ahead
[Instrumental] G D G x2 [Verse 4]
G       
Yes sir, I ain't no great man and Lord I expect to see

       D                       G
A long life, a workin' in your debt, Lord, Lord

D                              G
A long life, a workin' in your debt
[Outro]
G
They killed John Henry, they killed John Henry

D                                          G
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me

G
Lord, they killed John Henry, they killed John Henry

D                                          G
They killed John Henry but they won't kill me