Tom T. Hall - Kentucky February 27 1971 Chords

[Intro]
D  C  D
 
 
[Verse 1]
           D                G                D
There were signs beside the road like "Jesus Saves"
                                          A7
And "Relieve yourself the fast and gentle way"
      G                                D
I was looking for an old man who lived way back in these hills
                      C             D
Who just might have a story I could tell
 
 
[Verse 2]
D                G             D
Pretty soon, the blacktop disappeared
                                 A7
I felt the car change to a lower gear
  G                              D
I took a drink of liquor just to chase away the chill
         C                D
I was 27 miles from Olive Hill
 
 
[Verse 3]
 D               G                     D
Ahead, I saw the bridge where I turned right
                                      A7
A dirt road led straight up a mountainside
  G                                  D
I pulled up to a farmhouse I thought I had seen before
                   C               D
An old man and his dog were at the door
 
 
[Verse 4]
     D                G               D
They told me this old-timer knew this land
                                    A7
I told him, "Sir, I just don't understand
G                                    D
Why the kids in this state just grow up and move away
                         C                  D
And leave the land where they were born and raised."
 
 
[Verse 5]
   D                     G               D
He said, "Son, you can't make it on this land
                                      A7
Unless you're happy workin' with your hands
      G                              D
There ain't no kids today that wanna stay and work it out
                   C                 D
They wanna see the things they hear about."
 
 
[Verse 6]
   D                     G                D
He said, "I cleared this whole farm off myself
                                        A7
And I'd work it now but time has got my health."
      G                               D
Then, staring out the window, resting in his easy chair
                    C              D
He told me what I'd really come to hear
 
 
[Verse 7]
     D                 G                  D
"You know, son, people used to tell their kids
                                                 A7
'Now, I don't want you to have to work the way I did.'
     G                                        D
They don't and some will tell you that it's a shame
                        C                  D
But you have to think before you place the blame."
 
 
[Verse 8]
  D                  G                 D
I guess we must have talked for half a day
                                       A7
'til I told him that I'd best be on my way
   G                                   D
He shook my hand and said, "I'm glad I met you, Mr. Hall
                           C               D
But I guess there ain't no song here after all."
 
 
[Outro]
D  G  D
      A7
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