~ ~

"SWEET REVENGE"
John Prine

  1. SWEET REVENGE
  2. PLEASE DON'T BURY ME
  3. CHRISTMAS IN PRISON
  4. DEAR ABBY
  5. BLUE UMBRELLA
  6. OFTEN IS A WORD I SELDOM USE
  7. ONOMATOPOEIA
  8. GRANDPA WAS A CARPENTER
  9. THE ACCIDENT
10. MEXICAN HOME
11. A GOOD TIME
12. NINE POUND HAMMER

Atlantic Records, 1973

 

Sweet Revenge ^   
John Prine


Intro:

I got k[G]icked off Noah's Ark
I turn my ch[C]eek to unkind re[G]marks
There was two of everything but one of [D7]me
And when the ra[G]ins came tumbling down
I held my b[C]reath and I stood my gr[G]ound
And I watched that ship go sa[D7]iling out to se[C]ee-e[G]a

Chorus:
Take it b[C]ack. Take it back.
Oh [G]no, you can't say that
All of my friends are not dead or in j[D7]ail
[G]Through rock and through stone
The bl[C]ack wind still mo[G]ans
Sweet Revenge, Sweet Re[D7]venge without [C]fai[G]l

[G]I caught an aisle seat on a plane
And drove an En[C]glish teacher half in[G]sane
Making up jokes about bicycle spokes and red ball[D7]oons
So I ca[G]lled up my local deejay
And he di[C]dn't have alot to s[G]ay
But the radio has learned a[D7]ll of my favorite [C]tun[G]es

Repeat Chorus:

[G]The white meat is on the run
And the d[C]ark meat is far too d[G]one
And the milkman left me a note yester[D7]day
Get o[G]ut of this town by Noon
You're co[C]ming on way too s[G]oon
And besides that we never li[D7]ked you a[C]nyw[G]ay

Repeat Chorus:

Sweet Re[G]venge, Sweet Re[D7]venge
Will pr[C]evail without f[G]ail

 

Please Don't Bury Me  ^  
John Prine

Intro - Record Key of E - Capo on 2:

_______________________D_____
E|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D|---|---|---|---|---|-0-|---
A|-0-|-0-|-2-|-2-|-4-|---|---
E|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

[D]Woke up this morning, p[G]ut on my slippers
[D]Walked in the kitchen and d[A]ied
And [D]oh what a feeling when my s[G]oul went through the ceiling
And [A]on up into heaven I did r[D]ise
When I [G]got there they did say John it [D]happened this-a-way
You slipped upon the floor and hit your h[A]ead[A7]
And a[D]ll the angels say just b[G]efore you passed a[D]way
These are the very l[A]ast words that you s[D]aid

Chorus:
[G](But) Please don't bury me down i[D]n the cold cold ground
No, I'd 'druther have 'em cut me up and pass me all a[A]round
[D]Throw my brains in a hurricane
And the b[G]lind can have my e[D]yes
And the d[G]eaf can take b[D]oth of my ears
If t[A]hey don't mind the s[D]ize

Instrumental:
[G] [D] [A] [D]

[D]Give my stomach to Milwakee if they [G]run out of b[D]eer
Put my socks in a cedar box just g[E7]et 'em out'a h[A7]ere
Ve[D]nus de Milo can have my arms
Look o[G]ut! I've got your n[D]ose
S[G]ell my heart to the j[D]unk man
And gi[A7]ve my love to R[D]ose

Repeat Chorus:

Instrumental:
[D] [G] [D] [E7] [A7]
[D] [G] [D]
[G] [D] [A7] [D]

[D]Give my feet to the foot-loose
C[G]areless, fancy-f[D]ree
Give my knees to the needy
Don't p[E7]ull that stuff on [A7]me
H[D]and me down my walkin' cane, it's a s[G]in to tell a l[D]ie
 S[G]end my mouth w[D]ay down south and k[A]iss my ass good[D]-bye

Repeat Chorus:

 

Christmas In Prison  ^  
John Prine

Intro:
[G] [C] [G] [D7] [G]

[G]It was Christmas in prison and the f[C]ood was real good
We had tu[G]rkey and pistols carved out of w[D7]ood
And I dr[G]eam of her always even w[C]hen I don't dream
Her n[G]ame's on my tongue and her bl[D]ood's in my st[G]ream

Chorus:

W[D]ait awhile et[C]erni[G]ty
O[C]ld Mother Nature's got not[G]hing on [D]me
Co[G]me to me. Run to me. C[C]ome to me now.
We're ro[G]lling my sweetheart. We're fl[D]owing by G[G]od.

Instrumental:
[G] [C] [G] [D7]
[G] [C] [D] [G]

[G]She reminds me of a chess game with so[C]meone I admire
Or a pic[G]nic in the rain after a paririe f[D7]ire
Her he[G]art is a big as this wh[C]ole damn jail
And she's sw[G]eeter than saccharine at a dr[D]ug store s[G]ale

Repeat Chorus:

Instrumental:
[G] [C] [G] [D7]
[G] [C] [D] [G]

T[G]he search light in the big yard swings 'ro[C]und with the gun
And spot[G]lights the snowflakes like the dust in the [D7]sun
It's Chr[G]istmas in prison There'll be m[C]usic tonight
I'll pr[G]obably get homesick I lo[D]ve you. Good N[G]ight.
 Repeat Chorus:

 

Dear Abby  ^  
John Prine

Recorded Key of B - Capo on 4

[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, my f[C]eet are too l[G]ong
[G]My hair's falling out and my r[A7]ights are all w[D7]rong
[G]My friends they all tell me, that'a [C]no friends at a[G]ll
[G]Won't you write me a letter, won't you g[D]ive me a c[G]all
[C]Sig[D]ned Be[G]wildered

[G]Bewildered, Bewildered you ha[C]ve no compl[G]aint
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]

[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, my fo[C]untain pen le[G]aks
My wife hollers at me and my k[A7]ids are all fr[D7]eaks
Every s[G]ide I get up on is the wr[C]ong side of b[G]ed
If it weren't so expensive I'd w[D]ish I were d[G]ead
[C]Sig[D]ned Un[G]happy

[G]Unhappy, Unhappy, you ha[C]ve no compl[G]aint
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]

[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, you w[C]on't believe t[G]his
But my stomache makes noises whene[A7]ver I k[D7]iss
My gi[G]rlfriend tells me it's a[C]ll in my h[G]ead
But my stomache tells me to wr[D]ite you inst[G]ead
S[C]ign[D]ed Noisem[G]aker.

[G]Noisemaker, Noisemaker, you h[C]ave no compl[G]aint ...
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]

[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, well I n[C]ever tho[G]ught
That me and my girlfriend would e[A7]ver get ca[D7]ught
We were si[G]ttin' in the back seat just sho[C]otin' the bre[G]eze
With her hair up in curlers and her p[D]ants to her kn[G]ees
S[C]ign[D]ed Just Mar[G]ried

[G]Just Married, Just Married, you h[C]ave no compl[G]aint ...
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
 Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C]Sig[D]ned Dear A[G]bby

 

Blue Umbrella  ^  
John Prine

Intro:
[C]

F[C]eelings are strange espe[F]cially when they c[C]ome true
And I had a feeling that y[G]ou'd be leaving s[C]oon
So I tried to rear[F]range all my emo[C]tions
But it seems the same no ma[G]tter what I d[C]o

Chorus:
B[C]lue umbrella r[F]est upon my sho[C]ulder
Hide the pain while the r[G]ain makes up my m[C]ind
Well, my feet are wet from th[F]inking this thing o[C]ver
And it's been so long since I f[F]elt the warm suns[G]hine
J[F]ust give [G]me one good re[C]ason
And I [F]promise I won't a[G]sk you anym[C]ore
J[F]ust give [G]me one extra se[C]ason
So I can figure o[G]ut the other f[C]our

Instrumental:
[F] [G] [C]
[F] [G] [C]
[F] [G] [C]
[G] [C]

D[C]ayime makes me wo[F]nder why you le[C]ft me
Nighttime makes me wo[G]nder what I s[C]aid
Next time are the w[F]ords I'd like to p[C]lan on
But, last time was the o[G]nly thing you s[C]aid

Repeat Chorus:

Ending:
[G] [C]

 

Often Is A Word I Seldom Use  ^  
John Prine


Intro:
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]

[D]I know that you're sad I know that you're lo[A]nely
[D]You lie awake till w[E]ay past wh[A]en
I w[D]ant you to know that I'm leaving you o[A]nly
[D]'Cause I might not get the cha[E]nce ag[A]ain

Chorus:
[D]I'm cold and I'm tired
And I can't stop cou[A]ghing
[D]Long enough to tell you a[E]ll of the ne[A]ws
[D]I'd like to tell you that I'll see you more of[A]ten
But of[D]ten is a word I se[E]ldom u[A]se
[D]Often is a word I se[E]ldom u[A]se

Instrumental:
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]

[D]Tell me, where did the weekend [A]go? [D] [E] [A]
[D]Tell me, where did the weekend [A]go?
[D] [E] [A]
[D]Went like thunder, felt like s[A]now
[D] [E] [A]
[D]Went like thunder, felt like s[A]now

Instrumental:
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [A]
[D] [E] [A]

[D]You must think my life's a ci[A]rcus
[D]Watching me laughing and sl[E]apping my th[A]ighs
[D]How'd ya like to die in the house of mi[A]rrors
[D]With nobody around to cl[E]ose your e[A]yes

Repeat Chorus:

[D]Going down to the Greyhound sta[A]tion
[D]Going back home and g[E]et what's m[A]ine
[D]Got me a date with the ten o'clock sp[A]ecial
[D]Gonna be there at a qu[E]arter to n[A]ine [D] [E] [A]
[D]I'm cold and I'm tired
And I can't stop cou[A]ghing
[D]Long enough to tell you a[E]ll of the ne[A]ws
[D]I'd like to tell you that I'll see you more of[A]ten
But of[D]ten is a word I se[E]ldom u[A]se
[D]Often is a word I se[E]ldom u[A]se
[D]Often is a word I se[E]ldom u[A]se

 

Onomatopoeia  ^  
John Prine

Intro:
[G]

[G]Forty five minutes-fifty five cents
S[C]ixty five agents sitting on a fence
Singing, h[G]ey little brother l[D]ook what we got for y[G]ou
We're gonna rope off an an area and put on a show
>From the Ca[C]nadian border down to Mexico
It might [G]be the most - potentially gross
T[D]hing that we could possibly [G]do
[D]Yeah, little buddy, gonna get your chance
Make th[G]em pubescents all wet their pants
We'll re[A]cord it live and that's no jive
[D]Hold it! Stop it! No! No! No! No!
[G]Bang! went the pistol
Crash! went the window
[C]Ouch! went the son of a gun
[G]Onomatopoeia, I d[D]on't want to see ya
Sp[C]eaking in a for[D]eign to[G]ngue

Instrumental:
[D] [G] [A] [D]

[G]Knock! Knock! Hello! Can I come in?
G[C]ee, that was a wonderful show
Oh, you ha[C]ven't gone on yet. Well h[D]ow was I supposed to k[G]now.
Hey! We got a great date. It's really downtown
We're gonna g[C]et the Grand Canyon to do the sound
It's a b[G]oxing ring but it might be the thing
To re[D]ally get you in the do[G]ugh
[D]Listen little brother, don't ya get us wrong
Why we e[G]ven know one of the words to your songs
Just s[A]ay I do and we'll lay it on you [D]You! You! And me! Me! Me! Me!
[G]Bang! went the pistol
Crash! went the window
[C]Ouch! went the son of a gun
[G]Onomatopoeia, I d[D]on't want to see ya
Sp[C]eaking in a for[D]eign to[G]ngue

[D]Yeah, little buddy, gonna get your chance
Make th[G]em pubescents all wet their pants
We'll re[A]cord it live and that's no jive
[D]Hold it! Stop it! No! No! No! No!
[G]Bang! went the pistol
Crash! went the window
[C]Ouch! went the son of a gun
[G]Onomatopoeia, I d[D]on't want to see ya
Sp[C]eaking in a for[D]eign to[G]ngue
[G]Onomatopoeia, I d[D]on't want to see ya
Sp[C]eaking in a for[D]eign to[G]ngue [G7]

 

Grandpa Was A Carpenter  ^  
John Prine

Recorded Key of B - Capo on 4

Oh, Gr[G]andpa wore his suit to dinner nearly every d[C]ay
No particular re[G]ason, he just dressed that w[D]ay
Br[G]own necktie with a matching vest and both his wingtip s[C]hoes
He built a closet on o[G]ur back porch and put a pe[D]nny in a burned-out f[G]use

Chorus:
G[C]randpa was a carpenter, he built houses, stores and ba[G]nks
Ch[C]ain-smoked Camel ci[G]garettes and hammered nails in pl[D]anks
He was le[G]vel on the level, he shaved even every d[C]oor
And voted for Eisenh[G]ower, 'cause L[D]incoln won the w[G]ar

Instrumental:
[C] [D] [G]

[G]Well, he used to sing me "Blood on the Saddle" and rock me on his k[C]nee
And let me listen to the ra[G]dio before we got [D]TV
Well, he'd d[G]rive to church on Sunday and he'd take me with him t[C]oo
Stained glass in every wi[G]ndow, hearing a[D]ids in every p[G]ew

Repeat Chorus:

[G]Well, my Grandma was a teacher, she went to school in Bowling Gr[C]een
Traded in a mi[G]lking cow for a Singer sewing mac[D]hine
Well, she ca[G]lled her husband "Mister," and she walked real tall in p[C]ride
She used to buy me co[G]mic books a[D]fter Grandpa d[G]ied

Repeat Chorus:

 

The Accident  ^  
John Prine

Intro:
[C] [G] [D] [G]

[G]Last night I saw an accident
On the co[C]rner of the Third and Gr[G]een
Two cars collided and I got excited
J[A7]ust being part of that sc[D7]ene
It was M[G]rs. Tom Walker and her beautiful daughter
Pa[G7]mela was driving the c[C]ar
They got hit by a man in a li[G]ght blue sedan
Who had ob[D]viously been to a b[G]ar

Chorus:
They d[C]on't know how lucky they a[G]re
They co[C]uld have ran into that t[D7]ree
Got st[G]ruck by a bolt of lig[C]htning
And rap[G]ed by a m[D7]inor[G]ity

Instrumental:
[D] [G]

[G]It was a four-way stop dilemma.
We a[C]ll arrived the same t[G]ime
I yielded to the man to the right of me
And he yie[A7]lded it right back to m[D7]ine
Well, the yi[G]eld when around and around and around
Till Pa[G7]mela finally tr[C]ied
Just then the man in the li[G]ght blue sedan
Hit P[D]amela's passenger si[G]de

Repeat Chorus:

Instrumental:
[C] [G]
[C] [D7]
[G] [C]
[G] [D7] [G]

[G]Pamela hit her head on the mirror.
Mrs. Wa[C]lker got a bump on k[G]nee
The man hit himself in the face and said
"W[A7]hy does this happen to m[D7]e?"
The ne[G]ighbors came out and they gathered about
Saying "H[G7]ey! who hit who an[C]yway?"
Then the police arrived at a qu[G]arter to five
And pr[D]onounced all the victims "O[G]kay"

Repeat Chorus:

 

Mexican Home  ^  
John Prine

Intro:
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]

[G]It got so hot last night, I swear, y[C]ou couldn't hardly breathe
Heat lig[G]htning burnt the s[D]ky like alc[G]ohol
I sat on the porch without my shoes
And I wat[C]ched the cars roll by
As the he[G]adlights raced to the c[D]orner of the kitchen w[G]all

Chorus:
Ma[D]ma dear you boy is here. F[G]ar across the sea
Wa[A7]iting for that sacred core that b[D7]urns inside of me
And I f[G]eel a storm all wet and warm not t[C]en miles away
Approa[G]ching my M[D]exican h[G]ome

Instrumental:
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]

[G]My God, I cried. It's so hot inside you could d[C]ie in the living room
Take the f[G]an from the window-prop the d[D]oor back with a br[G]oom
Well, the cuckoo clock has died of shock
And the wi[C]ndows feel no pane
The a[G]ir's as still as a thr[D]ottle on a funeral tr[G]ain

Repeat Chorus:

Instrumental:
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]

My fa[G]ther died on the porch outside on an Aug[C]ust afternoon
I sipped bo[G]urbon and cried with a fri[D]end by the light of the mo[G]on
So it's hurry hurry! Step right up
It's a ma[C]tter of life or death
Well, the s[G]un's going down and the m[D]oon is just holding it's br[G]eath

Repeat Chorus:

Ending:
Approa[G]ching my M[D]exican h[G]ome
Approa[G]ching my M[D]exican h[G]ome

Instrumental-Repeat and Fade:
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]
[G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]

 

A Good Time  ^  
John Prine


Recorded Key of F - Capo on 5

[C]Time was o[F]nce just a cl[C]ock to me
And life was just a b[F]ook - a biogra[G]phy [G7]
S[C]uccess was som[F]ething you just h[C]ad to be
And I would spend my[F]self unkowing[G]ly [G7]
And you k[F]now that I could ha[G]ve me a mil[C]lion more friends
And all I'[F]d have to lose is my point of vi[G]ew [G7]
But I h[C]ad no idea what a g[F]ood time would cost
Till last ni[G]ght when I sat and talked with y[C]ou

An a[C]pple will sp[F]oil if it's b[C]een abused
A candle disappe[F]ars when it's been u[G]sed [G7]
A ra[C]inbow may fo[F]llow up a [C]hurricane
And I can't leave for[F]ever on a tr[G]ain [G7]
And you k[F]now that I'd su[G]rvive if I ne[C]ver spoke again
And a[F]ll I'd have to lose is my van[G]ity [G7]
But I h[C]ad no idea what a g[F]ood time would cost
Till last ni[G]ght when you sat and talked with m[C]e

Instrumental:
[C] [F] [C]
[F] [G] [G7]
[C] [F] [C]
[F] [G] [G7]
[F] [G] [C]
[F] [G] [G7]
[C] [F]
[G] [C]

You c[C]an smile for the la[F]ck of something e[C]lse to do
And no one will la[F]ugh and point at y[G]ou [G7]
If your t[C]ears didn't alw[F]ays make me f[C]eel so bad
Would you still cry everyt[F]ime that you felt s[G]ad [G7]
I tho[F]ught I'd heard and se[G]en en[C]ough to get along
Till y[F]ou said something neither of us kn[G]ew [G7]
And I h[C]ad no idea what a g[F]ood time would cost
Till last ni[G]ght when I sat and talked with y[C]ou
[C] [F] [C] [G] [C]

 

Nine Pound Hammer  ^  
Merle Travis


Intro:
[G]
[C] [C7]
[G] [D] [G]

[G]This nine pound hammer
Is a little too he[C]avy [C7]
Buddy for my s[G]iz[D]e
Buddy for my s[G]ize
So I'm going on the mountain
Just to see my b[C]aby[C7]
And I ain't coming b[G]ack
[D]No, I ain't coming b[G]ack

Chorus:
Roll on bu[G]ddy
Don't you roll so s[C]low [C7]
Well, tell me how can I r[G]oll, roll, ro[D]ll
When the wheels won't [G]go
Roll on bu[G]ddy
Pull your load of c[C]oal [C7]
Tell me how can I [G]pul[D]l
When the wheels won't r[G]oll

Instrumental:
[G]
[C] [C7]
[G] [D] [G]
[G]
[C] [C7]
[G] [D] [G]

[G]It's a long way to Harlan
It's a long way to Haz[C]ard [C7]
Just to get a little br[G]ew, brew, b[D]rew
Just to get a little b[G]rew
[G]And when I die
You can make my tombst[C]one [C7]
Out of number nine c[G]oal
O[D]ut of number nine c[G]oal

Repeat Chorus:

Instrumental:
[G]
[C] [C7]
[G] [D] [G]
[G]
[C] [C7] [G] [D] [G]

Repeat Chorus:

Ending:
Well, tell me how can I r[G]oll, roll, ro[D]ll
When the wheels won't [G]go
Well, tell me how can I r[G]oll, roll, ro[D]ll
When the wheels won't [G]go

 

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