VERSE
Am D
Gus checked his pocket-watch it was a quarter past nine
Am G E
He caught a train to Baton Rouge and bought a copy of the times.
Am D
Pulled out a faded picture of a woman with coal black hair
F E Am
She had gone out east and he prayed he’d find her there.
Am D
She met a gambler who said he hailed from New Orleans
Am G E
Gus knew he fancied her but she wanted him too it seemed
Am D
He followed the trail of broken stories till he heard that she left town,
F E Am
She was packed and gone by the time he turned around
FILL:
C G Am C G E
Am D
He talked to the man a while that had tore the ticket stubs
Am G E
If he finds that son of a b***h he was gonna spill that Cajun blood
Am D
There would not be a mojo man who would save him from that day
F E Am
He had crossed the line and there’d be hell to pay
Am D
Well the 10 o’clock from San Antone it departed right on time
Am G E
He lit up a cigarette as the tracks began to whine
Am D
The Texas heat had felt like hell without his woman there
F E Am
The Spanish maiden with the coal black hair
FILL: C G Am C G E
Am F C G
You’re gonna live and die by the blade and you’ll reap what you sow
Am F C G
Cause life the things that happens on our way to growing old
Am F C G
If the truth was known to woman she could steal her lover’s soul
Am E Am
She knows that the devil pays in gold.
FILL: C G Am C G E
Am D
They pulled into the station and he packed his cap and ball
Am G E
He went to check the hotels if he needed to check them all
Am D
He knew all he needed to do was to find a game of card
F E Am
And he could drop the ace of spades on the queen of hearts
Am D
He found the downstairs card room where the high rollers stayed
Am G E
One chair stood empty from the last table left to play
Am D
He pulled a stool up to the bar but he could not see a thing
F E Am
Till a loud mouth Yankee bet his lady’s ring
FILL C G Am C G E
Am D
Pulled a pistol on the desk clerk cause he would not take a bribe
Am G E
and then he shouted Give me their number and you might walk out alive
Am D
The next thing from the clerk’s lips was the number forty-four
F E Am
And he pointed upstairs and he ran on out the door
Am D
He found the room and was ready to go inside
Am G E
He put a boot to the door and it flung open wide
Am D
The gambler he reached for his gun but he would not get a shot
F E Am
Gus had his aim and he let that hammer drop
FILL C G Am C G E
Am F C G
You’re gonna live and die by the blade and you’ll reap what you sow
Am F C G
Cause life the things that happens on our way to growing old
Am F C G
If the truth was known to woman she could steal her lover’s soul
Am E Am
She knows that the devil pays in gold.
C G Am C G Am C G Am Am E Am E strum once
Am D
The gambler lay before him he was sprawled across that chair
Am G E
But where was his maiden with the coal black hair
Am D
He didn’t know she stood behind him, she had gone for wine and bread
F E Am
He hit the floor when her bullet struck his head.
FILL C G Am C G E
Am F C G
You’re gonna live and die by the blade and you’ll reap what you sow
Am F C G
Cause life the things that happens on our way to growing old
Am F C G
If the truth was known to woman she could steal her lover’s soul
Am E Am
She knows that the devil pays in gold.