David Allan Coe - Old Man Tell Me
Capo 1
[D]I've seen the old man sittin' round
The courthouse square back home in town
[G]Talkin' about the big [Em]war, back in [G]194[A]3
[D]Sayin' how much good it's done
Medals gleamin' in the sun
[G]Cussin' at my [Em]long hair
And my [G]talk of bein' [A]free.
Their [D]vision like their battle scars
Of [A]other wars has faded
Like the [G]colors on the ribbons
[D]
If [G]there's one thing I've learned it's this
You [D]just can't shake hand [Bm]with a fist
And I once did my [Em]talkin' with a [A]gun.
And [D]old man I know what you've seen
But [A]yours is not the only dream
[G]I have to [F#m]belie[Em]ve in something [G]more than yester[A]day
[D]Let it die just like the past
[A]I believe there's [G]hope at last
Old man, did you ever have to [A]pray
Old man, can you show me the [D]way.
[D]He shakes his head from time to time
And rambles somewhere in his mind
[G]Mumblin' bout the [Em]civil war
And [G]how we should have [A]won
[D]Settin' up his battle plans
On checker boards at his command
[G]Watchin' all his [Em]gallant kings go [G]fallen one by [A]one.
And [D]"son he'd say there's not much time
For you to straighten out your mind
[G]But you never listen, to the [Em]things I try to [A]say
And [D]I just turn my head and cry
Never understanding why
[G]He'd set up that [Em]checkerboard
[A]When he knew I couldn't play.
Capo 1
[D]I've seen the old man sittin' round
The courthouse square back home in town
[G]Talkin' about the big [Em]war, back in [G]194[A]3
[D]Sayin' how much good it's done
Medals gleamin' in the sun
[G]Cussin' at my [Em]long hair
And my [G]talk of bein' [A]free.
Their [D]vision like their battle scars
Of [A]other wars has faded
Like the [G]colors on the ribbons
[D]
If [G]there's one thing I've learned it's this
You [D]just can't shake hand [Bm]with a fist
And I once did my [Em]talkin' with a [A]gun.
And [D]old man I know what you've seen
But [A]yours is not the only dream
[G]I have to [F#m]belie[Em]ve in something [G]more than yester[A]day
[D]Let it die just like the past
[A]I believe there's [G]hope at last
Old man, did you ever have to [A]pray
Old man, can you show me the [D]way.
[D]He shakes his head from time to time
And rambles somewhere in his mind
[G]Mumblin' bout the [Em]civil war
And [G]how we should have [A]won
[D]Settin' up his battle plans
On checker boards at his command
[G]Watchin' all his [Em]gallant kings go [G]fallen one by [A]one.
And [D]"son he'd say there's not much time
For you to straighten out your mind
[G]But you never listen, to the [Em]things I try to [A]say
And [D]I just turn my head and cry
Never understanding why
[G]He'd set up that [Em]checkerboard
[A]When he knew I couldn't play.
