Steel rail blues    (intro)    (midi)

 

                 C

1. Well, I got my mail late last night,

                                          C7                         F

    a letter from a girl who found the time to write

                                                                     C

    to her lonesome boy somewheres in the night.

            F                                                                                  C

   She sent me a railroad ticket, too, to take me to her loving arms,

                             Am                            G7                        C  -Em-Am-G7

  and the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love.

 

                 C

2. Well, I been out here many a long days,

                                               C7                      F

    I haven't found a place that I could call my own,

                                                        C                              

    not a two bit bed to lay my body on.

         F                                                                                          C

    I been stood up I been shook down, I been dragged into the sand,

                             Am                            G7                        C  -Em-Am-G7

  and the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love.

 

     F   Em  Am                 C         - F-Em-Am-G7-C

    Oh  ho   ho,  hey hey hey.  

 

                 C

3. Well, I been up tight most every night,

                                     C7                    F

    walking along the streets of this old town,

                                                                 C

    not a friend around to tell my troubles to.

          F                                                                                               C

 My good old car she done broke down, 'cause I drove it into the ground,

                             Am                            G7                        C  -Em-Am-G7

  and the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love.

 

               C

4. Well, look over yonder across the plain,

                                          C7                             F

    the big drive wheels a-pounding along the ground,

                                                                          C

    gonna get on board, and I'll be homeward bound.

               F                                                                                   C

    Now I ain't had a home cooked meal, and, Lord, I need one now,

                             Am                            G7                        C  -Em-Am-G7

  and the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love.

 

     F   Em  Am                 C         - F-Em-Am-G7-C

    Oh  ho   ho,  hey hey hey. 

 

               C

5. Now, here I am with my head in the sand,

                                                C7                         F

    standing on the broad highway will you give a ride,

                                                                            C

    to a lonesome boy who missed the train last night.

         F                                                                                         C

    I went in town for one last round, and I gambled my ticket away,

                             Am                          G7                        C  -Em-Am-G7

  and the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love.

 

     F   Em  Am                 C         - F-Em-Am-G7-C - C7

    Oh  ho   ho,  hey hey hey. 

     F   Em  Am                 C         - F-Em-Am-G7-C - C7 

    Oh  ho   ho,  hey hey hey.                                         

G                   C

    Juck, hey hey.

 

(orig. = capo 1st; midi = no capo)      (Gordon Lightfoot)