CAPO: 2nd FretINTRO: Am
In the valley by the river, we had a little land
It wasn’t much to speak of, what we had was by our hands
But the banker took it from us, at the end of two dry years
Left nothing but the dust, watered by my mother’s tears
With all the rage that burned inside me, I rode into that town
And with my father’s rifle, I shot that banker down
And this isn’t like the story books, there’ll be no reprieve
When they take me out before the morning sun
The judge was looking at me, when he brought the gavel down
It echoed off the pillars, “By law son you are bound”
Then behind those iron bars, alone to face myself
With the building of the scaffold, outside my quiet prison cell
I can hear the hammers pounding, I can feel my blood awaken
To a thousand freight trains running through my mind
This isn’t like the story books, there’ll be no reprieve
When they take me out before the morning sun
My father said, “Son, we’ll love you ’til the end”
My mother turned and hid her face, as the preacher man stepped in
He said, “Know that god will judge you, and know that you have sinned.”
The long shadow of the gallows, spanned my prison cell
It made a cross upon the preacher's back, a hardened man’s farewell
I can hear the footsteps coming now, they’re right outside my door
With a single church bell, ringing out of time
This isn’t like the story books, and now the hour has come
When they take me out before the morning sun
With my calloused hands behind me, like those fields in my memory
I’m staring straight, into a clear hori–zon
This isn’t like the story books, and now the moment’s come and gone
They hang me out to face the morning sun
They hang me out before the morning sun
OUTRO: G F C G E7 Am
Oooooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
