Blind Willie McTell

Seen the arrow on the doorpost

Saying this land is condemned

All the way from New Orleans

To Jerusalem

I travel through east Texas

Where many martyrs fell

And I dont know one can sing the blues

Like blind Wille McTell

Well, I heard that hoo-dove singing

As they were taking down the tent

The stars above the barren trees

Was his only audiance

Them charcoal gypsy maidens

Can strut their feathers well

But nobody can sing the blues

Like blind Wille McTell

Seen them big plantations burning

Hear the cracking of the whips

Smell that sweet magnolia blooming

See the ghost of slarvery ship

I can hear them tribes moaning

Hear the undertakers bell

Nobody can sing the blues

Like blind Wille McTell

There's a woman by the river

With some fine young handsome man

He's dressed up like a squier

Bootlegged whiskey in his hand

There's a chain gang on the highway

I can hear them rebells yell

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like blind Wille McTell

Well, God is in his heaven

And we are what was his

But power and greed and corruptible seed

Seem to be all that there is

I'm gazing out the window

Of the St. James Hotel

And I dont know no one that can sing the blues

Like blind Wille McTell