Chord/Tab song: The Southern Thing

By The Drive-by Truckers
Written By Patterson Hood
rmofle at satx.rr.com
1/16/2005

[C]Ain't about my pistol, ain't about my boots
[F]Ain't about no northern drives, ain't about my southern roots
[C]Ain't about my guitars, ain't about my big old amps
[F]"It ain't rained in weeks, but the weather sure feels damp"
[C]Ain't about excuses or alibis
[F]Ain't about no cotton fields or cotton picking lies
[C]Ain't about the races, the crying shame
[F]To the fking rich man all poor people look the same[D][G][D]

Chorus 1:
[D]Don't get me wrong [D][G][D]
[D]It just ain't right[D][G][D]
[D]I aint too look strong[D][G][D]
but I [D]ain't afraid to fight[D][G][D]
[D]If you want to live [D][G][D]
[D]another day[D][G][D]
[D]Stay out the way of the southern thing

Ain't about no hatred better raise a glass
It's a little about some rebels but it ain't about the past
Ain't about no foolish pride, ain't about no flag
Hate's the only thing that my truck would want to drag

Chorus 2:
You think I'm dumb
Maybe not too bright
You wonder how
I sleep at night
Proud of the glory
Stare down the shame
Duality of the southern thing

My great, great granddad had a hole in his side
He used to tell the story to the family Christmas night
Got shot at Shiloh, thought he'd die alone
Ain't no plantations in my family tree
Did NOT believe in slavery, thought that all men should be free
But, who are these soldiers marching through his land
His bride could hear the cannons and she worried about her man

Chorus 3:
I heard the story
As it was passed down
About guts and glory
And Rebel stands
Four generations
A whole lot has changed
Robert E. Lee
Martin Luther King
We've come a long way
Rising from the flame
Stay out the way of the southern thing