No Capo, standard tuning
Walk down the E string when you go from G to Em
Intro
G D Em C D
G C
Living on bread and wine was easy
D G
for John and James and Mother Mary
Em C D
and I'm no saint and that's my ball and chain
G C
Cause when I'm passed that silver challis
D G
I always drink my fill until it
Em C D
knocks me down and tangles up my brain
G D
Yeah buddy, it's a short life, it's a hell of a life
G C
it's a mean old world, when you're kicked to the gutter
G D G
and the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
Instrumental
G D Em C D
G C
Walking through the graveyards and sleeping in alleys
D G
telling myself the same old stories
Em C D
Drinking that blood and calling it holy wine
G C
Looking in windows and seeing a stranger
D G
going through hell like a fallen angel
Em C D
Feeling my bones getting old long before their time
G D
Yeah buddy, it's a short life, it's a hell of a life
G C
it's a mean old world, when you're kicked to the gutter
G D
and the firewater gotcha talking in circles again
G D
It's an empty bottle passing around
G C
when your hopes and dreams have all burned down
G D G
and the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
D G-C
Take me home, take me home
G D
Gather me up in your arms Lord have mercy divine
Instrumental
G D Em C G D G
D G
So take me home, take me home
D C-D
Take me home, take me home
G D
Cause it's a short life, it's a hell of a life,
G C
it's a mean old world when your kicked to the gutter
G D Em
and the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
C G D G
Yeah, the firewater is the one thing to put out the flame
Read more: Old Crow Medicine Show - Firewater Lyrics | MetroLyrics