Dm        A      Dm 
Seen the arrow on the doorpost 
 Dm           A       Dm 
Saying this land is condemned 
          A       C    G     Bb     C  Dm 
All the way from New Orleans to Jeruselem 
   Dm       A      Dm 
I travelled to East Texas 
 Dm          A     Dm 
Where many martyrs fell 
          A       C            G 
And I know no one can sing the blues 
Bb           C       Dm 
Like Blind Willie McTell 

Well I heard that hooter singing 
As they were taking down the tents 
The stars above the barren trees 
Were his only audience 
Them charcoal gypsy maidens 
Can strut their feathers well 
But nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell 

See them big plantations burning 
Hear the cracking of the whips 
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming 
See the ghosts of slavery ships 
I can hear them tribes a moaning 
Hear that undertaker's bell 
Nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell 

There's a woman by the river 
With some fine young handsome man 
He's dressed up like a squire 
Bootleg whiskey in his hand 
There's a chain gang on a highway 
I can hear them rebels yell 
But I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell 

Well God is up in Heaven 
And we are what was his 
But power,greed and corruptible seed 
Seem to be all that there is 
I'm gazing out the window 
of the St. James Hotel 
And I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell