Chord Booklet

Kris Kristofferson

10 songs|22 chords used|Hard

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Chords used

C/G

F#m

G/B

F/C

D/A

A/E

E/B

To Beat The Devil

Key: GMedium

C/G

It was Gwinter time in Nashville,down oC/Gn music city row G

And i was lookin' for a place to get myDself out of the cold C/G

To warm the frozen feelin' that was eatiGn' at my soul Em C/G

And keep the chilly wind off my guitar D

My thirGsty wanted whisky,my hungrC/Gy needed beans G

But it'd been of month of paydays since i've heDard that eagle scream

So with mC/Gy stomach full of empty and Gmy pockets full of dreamsEm C/G

I left my pride and stepped inside a bar D

ActualEmly i guess you'd could call it a Tavern.C/G..

Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and stardust on the floor D

Friendly shadows G

I saw thGat there was just one old man sittC/Gin' at the bar G

And in the mirror i could see him checkin' me and Dmy guitar C/G

He turned,and said "ComGe up here boy,and show uEms what you are" C/G

I said "I'm dry"-and he brought me a beer D

He noddedG at my guitar and said "It's aC/G tough life,ain't it" G

I just looked at him,and he said "You ain't mDakin' any money,are you?" C/G

I said "You've been readin' my mail".He jGust smiled and said "Let mEme see your guitar" C/G

I've goC/Gt something you want to hear.TGhen he laid it on me

If you wGaste your time of talkin' to the peoplC/Ge who don't listen

To the things Gthat you are sayin',who do you think'Ds gonna hear

And if you shGould die explaining how the thingsC/G that they complain about

Are things Gthey could be changin' who do you thinDk's gonna care G

There were otherD lonely singers in a world tC/Gurned deaf and blind G

Who were crucified for what they tried to show D

And their voice'Gs have been scattered by this world C/Gand winds of times G

Cause the truth remains that no onDe wants to know G

Well,thGe old man was a stranger,but i'd hearC/Gd his song before G

Back when failure had me locked out on tDhe wrong side of the door C/G

When no one stood behind me but my shadGow on the floor Em C/G

And lonesome was more than a state of mind D

You see,thGe devil haunts a hungry man,and C/Gif you don't wanna join him G

You got to beat hiDm C/G

I ain't sayin' i beat the devil but Gi drank his beer fEmor nothing C/G

Then i stole his song G

And you still Gcan hear me singin' to the peopleC/G who don't listen

To the things Gthat i am sayin',prayin' someonDes gonna hear

And i guess Gi'll die explainig how the thingsC/G that they complain about

Are things Gthey could be changin',hopin' someonDes gonna care G

I was born aD lonely singer,and i'm bound C/Gto die the same G

But i've got to feed the hunger in my soul D

And if i never Ghave a nickle i won't ever C/Gdie ashamed G

Cause i don't believe that no onDe wants to know G

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Me and Bobby Mcgee

Key: GHard

intro[G] C G C G C G C

GBusted flat in BGaton Rouge,G headin' for a trGain

fGeelin' near as faGded as myD7 jeans, D7

D7Bobby thumbed a dD7iesel downD7 just before it rD7ained.

TD7ook us all the wD7ay into New OrGleanCs. G

I Gtook my harpooGn out of my diGrty red bandanGa

And was playGin' soft while BobbyG7 sang the blues.C C

With them windshieCld wipers slappin' tCime and Bobby clapGpin' time, we finG'lly

D7Sang up every soD7ng that driver knD7ew D7

CFreedom's just anCother word forG nothin' left to lGose.

D7Nothin' ain't worthD7 nothin' but it's free. G G

FeelCin' good was easyC, Lord, when Bobby sangG the blues. G

Feelin' gD7ood was good enouD7gh for me, D7 D7

D7Good enough for mD7e and my Bobby McGGee. G A A

From the Acoal minesA of Kentuckyto thAe CaliforniAa sun

BobbyA shared the secretAs of my souE7l. E7

Standin'E7 right beside E7me, Lord, througE7h everything I'E7d done,

EveryE7 night she E7kept me from the cold.A A

ThenA somewhere nearA Salinas, LorAd, I let her slip Aaway

LookiAn' for the home anA7d I hope she'll finDd. D

And I'd tDrade all my tomoDrrows for a sinAgle yesterdayA

holdinE7' Bobby's body neE7xt to mine. E7 E7

DFreedom's just anDother word forA nothin' left to lAose.

E7Nothin' left is all sE7he left for me.A A

FeelinD' good was easy, DLord, when ABobby sang the blues. A

BuddE7y, that was good E7enough for me, E7 E7

E7Good enough for mE7e and Bobby McGeeA. A

La da Ada, la da,A la da da dAa da da da A

ALa da da da me Aand Bobby McGeeE7. E7

E7La da da da da E7da da dE7a la da da da dE7a,

E7La da da da me E7and Bobby McGAee A

La da Ada, la da, lAa da da da da da Ada da A

ALa da da daA me and Bobby McGee. E7 E7

La da dE7a da da da da, E7la da da daE7 da, E7

E7La da da daE7 me and Bobby McGee. A A

(fade out)

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Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Key: AHard

F#m

Well I woke Aup Sunday morning,

With no way to Dhold my head that didn't hurt. E A

And the beer I haAd for breakfast wasn't bad, D

So I had one more for dessert. E

Then I fumbled tAhrough my closet for my clothes, D

And found my cleanest dirty shirt. A F#m

And I shaved my Dface and combed my hair,

And stBmumbled down the stairs to meet the day. E

I'd smokedA my brain the night before,

On cigarettesD and songs, so I'd beenE picking. A

But I litA my first and watched a small kid,

CF#mussing at a can that he was kicking. E

Then I crossed thAe empty street,

caught the Sunday smell of someDone frying chicken. A F#m

And it took me bDack to something, E

That I'd lost soDmehow, somewhere along the waEy. A

On the Sunday A7morning sidewalk, D

Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned. A

'Cause there's something in a Sunday, E

Makes a body fE7eel alone. A

And there's nothing A7short of dying, D

Half as lonesome as the sound, A

On the sleeping city sidewalks: E

Sunday morning comE7ing down. A

In the parAk I saw a daddy,

With a laughing littleD girl who he was Eswinging. A

And I stoppAed beside a Sunday school,

And listF#mened to the song they were singing. E

Then I headAed back for home,

And somewhereD far away a lonely bell was ringing. A F#m

And it echoed tDhrough the canyons, E

Like the disappearing drDeams of yesterday. E A

On the Sunday morning sA7idewalk, D

Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned. A

'Cause there's something in a Sunday, E

Makes a bodyE7 feel alone. A

And there's nothinA7g short of dying, D

Half as lonesome as the sound, A

On the sleeping city sidewalks: E

Sunday morning comE7ing down. A

(fading)

Do do do do do dA7o do do, D

Do do do do do do do, A

Do do do do do do do do, E

Do do do do dE7o do do. A

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The Prophet

Key: GHard

F#m

"I started out writin' this song about . . . insert own music gods!"

Notes: * each chord name below = one entire "bum-chicky-bum-chicky";

* (...sus4) = add sus4 to 2nd half of measure)

* letters in < > are bass notes than can optionally be

incorporated into guitar accompaniment

See him wGasted on the sGidewalk in his jGacket and his jGeans,

Wearin' yCesterday's misfCortunes like a smGile-- G

COnce he had a fCuture full of mGoney, love, anEmd dreams,

Which he spA7ent like they was gA7oin' outa stDyle-- D

And he kGeeps right on a'chGangin' for the bGetter or the wGorse,

SCearchin' for a shrDine he's never fGound-- G

Never knCowin' if belCievin' is a blGessin' or a cGurse,

Or if the gCoin' up was wDorth the comin' dGown-- G

He's a pCoet, he's a pCicker--

He's a prGophet, he's a pGusher--

He's a pDilgrim and a prDeacher, and a prDoblem when he's stGoned--

He's a wCalkin' contradCiction, partly trGuth and partly fGiction,

Takin' Dev'ry wrong dirDection on his lDonely way back hGome. G

modulate whole-step up: A (...sus4) A (...sus4)

He has tAasted good and Aevil in your bAedrooms and your bAars,

And he's trDaded in tomDorrow for tAoday-- A

RDunnin' from his dDevils, Lord, and rAeachin' for tF#mhe stars,

And lB7osin' all he's lB7oved along the wEay-- E

But if this wAorld keeps right on tAurnin' for the bAetter or the woArse,

And all he Dever gets is Eolder and arAound-- A

From the rDockin' of the crDadle to the rAollin' of the hAearse,

The gDoin' Bmup was wEorth the comin' dAown-- A

He's a pDoet, he's a pDicker--

He's a prAophet, he's a pAusher--

He's a pEilgrim and a prEeacher, and a prEoblem when he's stAoned--

He's a wDalkin' contradDiction, partly trAuth and partly fAiction,

Takin' Eev'ry wrong dirEection on his lEonely way back hAome. A G F

E There's a lotta wrong dirEections on that lEonely way back Ahome.

1 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 3 hold

home.

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The One You Chose

Key: CHard

C/G

G/B

F/C

D/A

A/E

E/B

C Give a C/Gman a yCeller C/Gand he'll Cbe your fC/Griend forCeverC/G

G Give a G/Bman a spGeckled G/Bbird and he'll nFever lF/Ceave your sCide, and C/Gdarling

C Truly C/Gmaking lCove will C/Gtake you hCigher C/Gthan the mCountaC/Gins

G Take you G/Bwhat it tGakes you G/B to mFake your sF/Cpirit rCise C/G

F Me and F/Cyou are mFoving F/Cin a trCuly C/Gnew dimCensionC/G

C Full of C/Gnew surprCises C/Gon this rDiver D/Athat we're rGiding, dG/Barling,

C Up aC/Ghead is crCazy C/Gwith the frCeedom C/Gand it's wCilderC/G

G Welcome G/Bto the oGne you cG/Bhose to rFun thereF/C by your sCide C/G

D Maybe D/Awhat you sDee is D/Awhat you gDot and D/Awhat you wDanted D/A

A Take meA/E at my wAord that A/Eit's the bGest thatG/B I can bDe D/A

DI willD/A go down trDying hD/Aard to teDach you D/Ahow to trDust meD/A

I'll lAove you 'A/Etil it hAappens A/Edarling Gor eG/BternitDy D/A

G HoldingG/B on to sGomething G/Bthat keeps hDoldingD/A us togDether D/A

DStronger tD/Ahan the cDircumD/Astances tEearingE/B us apAart A/E

DI've just D/Agot a fDeeling,D/A if I'm wrDong you D/Acan corrDect me D/A

A I beliA/Eeve that AI just A/Esang my wGay back G/Bin your hDeart D/A

DD/A

DD/ADD/ADD/AAA/EAA/EGG/BD

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The Pilgrim

Key: GHard

F#m

See him wastedG on the sidewaGlk in his jacketG and his jeans,G

Wearin' yCesterday's misfCortunes like a smGile-- G

COnce he had a fCuture full of mGoney, love, anEmd dreams,

Which he spA7ent like they was gA7oin' outa stDyle-- D

And he kGeeps right on a'chGangin' for the bGetter or the wGorse,

SCearchin' for a shrDine he's never fGound-- G

Never knCowin' if belCievin' is a blGessin' or a cGurse,

Or if the gCoin' up was wDorth the comin' dGown-- G

He's a pCoet, he's a pCicker--

He's a prGophet, he's a pGusher--

He's a pDilgrim and a prDeacher, and a prDoblem when he's stGoned--

He's a wCalkin' contradCiction, partly trGuth and partly fGiction,

Takin' Dev'ry wrong dirDection on his lDonely way back hGome. G

modulate whole-step up: A (...sus4) A (...sus4)

He has tAasted good and Aevil in your bAedrooms and your bAars,

And he's trDaded in tomDorrow for tAoday-- A

RDunnin' from his dDevils, Lord, and rAeachin' for tF#mhe stars,

And lB7osin' all he's lB7oved along the wEay-- E

But if this wAorld keeps right on tAurnin' for the bAetter or the woArse,

And all he Dever gets is Eolder and arAound-- A

From the rDockin' of the crDadle to the rAollin' of the hAearse,

The gDoin' Bmup was wEorth the comin' dAown-- A

He's a pDoet, he's a pDicker--

He's a prAophet, he's a pAusher--

He's a pEilgrim and a prEeacher, and a prEoblem when he's stAoned--

He's a wDalkin' contradDiction, partly trAuth and partly fAiction,

Takin' Eev'ry wrong dirEection on his lEonely way back hAome. A G F

E There's a lotta wrong dirEections on that lEonely way back hAome

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Border Lord

Key: EMedium

Verse 1

EDarkness had us Acovered when we Esplit from MinnAesota in the Emorning, A in the Erain.A

EBlack as I was Afeeling and the Estreet was slick and Ashiny as a Esnake. A E A

EEach of us was Ahumming to a Ehalf forgotten Aecho hanging Eover, A in the Ebrain.A

B7Tappin? time and thinking of the Atime we never had the time to Etake. A E A

Verse 2

ELosin? to the Arising cost of Eliving high and Alovin? hard and Eleavin? ever Ayesterday beEhind. A

ELearnin? every Abridge you cross is Eburning down beAfore you?re off,

and Erunning like the Adevil just in Etime. A

DBreakin? any ties before they Abind you, Dtakin? any comfort you can Afind.

DRunnin? like you?re runnin? out of Etime ~~~~,

Take it Dall, (take it easy) ?till it?s Aover, underGstandin?,

When you?re headin? for the border Lord, you?re Abound to cross the lineE. A

EAEAEA

Verse 3

EGood lookin? Awomen every Etime you Astumble, Ewaitin? there to Acatch you where you Efall. A

EGetting? to you Abad enough to Elet ?em keep you Abackin? up,

?till Ejust before your Aback?s against the Ewall. A

DBreakin? any ties before they Abind you, Dtakin? any comfort you can Afind,

Drunnin? like you?re runnin?out of Etime ~~~~.

Take it Dall, (take it easy) ?till it?s Aover, underGstandin?,

when you?re headin? for the border Lord, you?re Abound to cross the lineE. A E A

E A E A EFadAe .E . A. .E . A

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Casey's Last Ride

Key: AmHard

AmAm

CAmasey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down,G

The stairFway to the subway in the shadows down below. E

FolloAmwing their footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors, G

Of silenFt desperation, never speaking to a soul. E

The poisFon air he's breathing has the dirty smell of dying, C Am

'Cos it's neveDmr seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain. E

But CaseAmy minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes, G

Of the clickingF of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains. E Am

AmG

"OCh," she said: "Casey, it's been so long since I've seen you. G

"HeG7re," she said: "just a kiss to maDmke a body smile.G7 C

"SeCe," she said: "I've put on new stockings just to please you. G

"LG7ord," she said. "Casey, can yoDmu only stay a while." G7 C

AmAm

CaAmsey leaves the underground and stops inside The Golden Crown, G

For somethFing wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bones. E

SeeiAmng his reflection in the lives of all the loneGly men,

Who reachF for anything they can to keep from going home. E

StanFding in the corner, Casey drinks his pint of bitter, C Am

Never glancDming in the mirror at the people passing by. E

Then heAm stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason, G

Is the beeFr that's in his belly or the tear that's in his eye.E Am

AmG

"OhC," she said: "I suppose you seldom think about me. G

"NG7ow," she said: "now that you'Dmve a family of your own. G7 C

"StCill," she said: "It's so blessed good to feel your body. G

"LG7ord," she said: "Casey, it's aDm shame to be aloneG7." C

G7C

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Junkie And Juicehead Minus Me

Key: DEasy

I was stDumblin' bumblin' down them neon MGusic City sidewalks

With a JAunkie and a Juicehead who had Gproblems of their oDwn

Stuck with luck that kept me standin' just a Gstep away from starvin'

And some tAalent that I swore I'd show befGore I'd go back hDome

80 dGays out of the Army, makin' neither love nor money

And my oDnly set of clothes was gettin' cAloser to the A7bone

Then the JDunkie placed an order with the pGrophet on the corner

While he toAld us of the soul that he'd been sGellin' for a soDng

He said my Gfortune was my future but I Dlet it slip away

Slowly sAmokin' myself broke on 80 ciDgarettes a day

GFindin' out that crime ain't all there Dis that doesn't pay

And wriGtin' songs for no one but mysAelf, and the Juicehead who said

GIf I can read my fortune, in the boDttom of a glass

Then AI can see it's time for me to Dmake my last request

Will you Gfill my grave with whiskey when I'm Dlaid away to rest

So the Aboys can say I drank my way to hDell

Well I dDrank the whole thing over, put G1 and 2 together

And it aAddered up to more of what I dGidn't wanna Dbe

I ain't Dblamin' Music City but it's Gonly gonna see me

One more Awork day and a wake up and the Gtime it takes to lDeave

'Cause I Ggot a dirty picture of what could've been my future

In a pDrophet pushin' daydreams on a Acorner for a fA7ee

And a wDino lookin' lonely at a bGottle gettin' empty

And a huAngry lookin' Junkie hauntin' tGea and sympathDy

And I Gbet that Junkie's laughin' at the lDife he threw away

While he's sAmokin' himself broke on 80 cDigarettes a day

GPleadin' down the prophet to a pDrice that he can pay

And Gwritin' words that no one's gonna Asee, but the Juicehead who said

GEvery empty bottle is his pDrivate chrystal ball

Where he sAtares into the future findin' noDthin' there at all

Which is Gall I'll miss tomorrow when them Dneon shadows fall

On a JAunkie and a Juicehead minus Dme

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10.

Darby's Castle

Key: GMedium

Kris Kristofferson

See theG ruin on theEm hill

where the Csmoke is Emhangin Amstill

like an Decho of an age long forGgotten

there's a Gstory of a Emhome

crushed beCneath those Emblackened Amstones

and the Droof that fell D7before the beams were Drotten

Cecil GDarby loved his Emwife

and he Clabored Emall his Amlife

to Dprovide her with material posGsessions

and he Gbuilt for her a Emhome

of the Cfinest Emwood and Amstone

and the Dbuilding soon bD7ecame his sole oDbsession

oh it tCook 300 dDays

for the tiGmbers to be raEmised

and the Csilhouette was seGen from miles arDound

and the gGables reached as hEmigh

as the eCagles iEmn the sAmky

but it oDnly took one D7night to bring it down

when DDarby's castle D7tumbled to the grouGnd

GCGC

ThoughG they shared a common bEmed

there was preCcious lEmittle sAmaid

in the mDoments that were set aside for slGeepin'

for his busy dreams were fEmilled

with the roComs he'd Emyet to Ambuild

and he neDver heard young D7Helen Darby Dweepin'

thenG one night he heard a sEmound

as he laCyed his Empencil Amdown and he

Dtraced it to her door and turned the hGandle

and the pale light of the mEmoon

through the wiCndow oEmf the rAmoom

split the Dshadows where two D7bodies lay eDntangled

Oh it toCok 300 daDys

for the timGbers to be raiEmsed

and the silhoueCtte was seGen from miles arDound

and the gGables reached as hEmigh

as the eagCles in Emthe skyAm

but it oDnly took one D7night to bring it down

when DDarby's castle D7tumbled to the grouGnd

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