Tom: D
D D D D
D G A A
A A A G
D D D A
D D D D
D D G D
G D
[Verse 1]
D G D
In the beautiful hills, way back in Roane County
D A
There’s where I roamed for many long years
A D G D
There’s where my heart’s been tending most ever
D A D
That’s where the first step of misfortune I made
[Instrumental]
D D G D
D D D A
A D G D
D D A D
D D G D
D D D A
A D G D
D D A D
G A D
[Verse 3]
D G D
For twenty five years this whole world I rambled
D A
I went to old England to France and to Spain
A D G D
But I thought of my home way back in Roane County
D A D
I boarded a steamer and came back again
[Verse 4]
D G D
I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston
D A
Not a man in the county would speak one kind word
A D G D
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning
D A A
Was a lifetime in prison was the words that I heard
[Instrumental]
D D G D
D D D A
A D G D
D D A A
[Verse 5]
D G D
When the train pulled out poor mother stood weeping
D D
And sister she sat alone with a sigh
A D G D
And the last words I heard was Willie God bless you
D A D
Was Willie God bless you, God bless you, good-bye
[Verse 6]
D A D
In the scorching hot sands of the foundry I'm working
D A
Toiling and working my whole life away
A D G D
They'll measure my grave on the banks of the Cumberland
D A D
As soon as I finish the rest of my days
[Verse 7]
D A D
The jury was grave but the Judge he was better
D G
There’s better and worse, although you can see
G D A D
Boys when you write home from the prison in Nashville
D A D
Place one of my songs in your letter for me
