Tom: D
| D | D | D | D |
[Verse 1]
G
He lived upon the mountain in a run down country shack
D
They'd say, "Don't go around him, you might never make it back"
G
As a boy, I'd lie awake in my bed at the orphan home
D
And I could hear the old man play guitar, the gospel blues he moaned
A
The sound of the music would take me away
C G D
I knew I'd meet that mountain man someday, someday
[Verse 2]
G
One night after supper, that old feeling got the best of me
D
I heard that sound and I gave in to my curiosity
G
I climbed up on the mountain and there on the porch he sat
D
With a Mason jar beneath his feet and a guitar on his lap
A
The sound of the music took me away
C G D
I knew I'd meet that mountain man someday
[Chorus]
D
Tall as an oak tree covered with age
A
The mountain was his audience, the front porch was his stage
D
And he sang, "Rock of ages and precious memories
C G D D
Son, there's a better place for you and me"
[Verse 3]
G
We talked and talked for hours, he told me about his life
D
He spoke and cried of a beautiful girl that once had been his wife
G
He said she died while giving birth to a child he'd never see
D
The town-folks said he couldn't raise a boy, they claimed he was crazy as me
A
The county took his son away
C G D
He's lived upon the mountain since that day, yeah
[Instrumental]
| D | D | D | D | x2
[Verse 4]
G
Later in the evening, he held me to his side
D
He said he hoped he had a boy like me then he closed his eyes and died
G
In his hand, he held a picture and my face had turned blood red
D
When I realized it was just the same as the one above my bed
A
The good Lord took my daddy away
C G D
But I know we'll be walking hand in hand someday
[Chorus]
D
Tall as an oak tree covered with age
A
The mountain was his audience, the front porch was his stage
D
And he sang, "Rock of ages and precious memories
C G D
Son, there's a better place for you and me"
[Outro]
C G D G G7 D
There's a better place for the mountain man and me
