Intro: Am 


I built this house with my bare hands 
       D                
On the shores of Louisian 
                         G 
Took my sweet cher Jolie-Ann 
       Am 
For my own, my very own 



Now every man has got his pride 
           D               
I tried to shelter and provide 
                             G 
But I can't stop this poison tide 
        Am 
Rolling in, rolling in 



[Refrão]
 
         D               Am 
Now I've nothing left to give her 
                 D 
No answer to her prayers 
                     Am 
Black ribbons on the water 
      D               Am 
Black ribbons for her hair 



Then came the wind, then came the rain 
     D               
We defied that hurricane 
                         G 
And we built this house again 
         Am 
Stone by stone, stone by stone 



But in the gulf of Mexico 
          D               
Some five thousand feet below 
                         G 
Oh, the devil's blood it flows 
       Am 
On and on, on and on 



[Refrão]
 
     D               Am 
I've nothing left to give her 
                 D 
No answer to her prayers 
                     Am 
Black ribbons on the water 
      D               Am 
Black ribbons for her hair 


Instrumental: Am    D  Am  D  G  Am 



Oh, how her eyes they used to shine 
        D               
Fairest in Evangeline 
                           G 
Now they stare so cold and blind 
           Am 
Through my soul, oh lord, my soul 



[Refrão]
 
        D              Am 
She was tangled in the salt-grass 
                     D 
Not a bullet left to spare 
                     Am 
Black ribbons on the water 
      D               Am 
Black ribbons for her hair 
      D              Am 
Black ribbons on the water 
      D               Am 
Black ribbons for her hair 


OUTRO: Am    D  Am  D  G  Am  (3x)