Ian Noe : Between The Country

Capo:

III

C

G

F

Irene pulled in at midnight

C

G

F

Lit on the smoke and beer

C

G

F

Proudly crawled to the porch and called

Am

G

F

"Your favorite child is here" And Ma asked, "Where are ya livin'? And are ya livin' right within?" She said with fire, like a gospel choir A saint immune to sin

G

C

F

Old Irene, like a ravin' bomb

C

G

She's cuttin' every rug and killin' every jug

F

She comes upon Old Irene, never lacking charm Said, "I was feeling good and in the neighborhood I mean no harm" Irene sat down for supper Pourin' Visine into her eyes To see her tremblin' hand was to understand Some things you can't disguise Pa said, "Not for nothing "But you don't seem to be quite well" Irene reared back with a smile and cracked "How could you ever tell?" Old Irene, like a ravin' bomb She's cuttin' every rug and killin' every jug She comes up on Old Irene, don't believe in pain She said "To live this life you need a half a pint To keep you sane Irene said, but I ain't happy Sometimes I wake up feeling dead And if the sun should shine I close my blinds Pretend there's rain instead I took down all my mirrors I gave away all my rope and guns Drown the darkest time with some rot-gut wine And my faithful MASH re-runs Old Irene, like a ravin' bomb She's cuttin' every rug and killin' every jug She comes up on Old Irene said, "It's sad but true In spite of all it brings, it's the only thing

F

G

That gets me through"

C

G

F

Know it gets me through Well it gets me through Know it hits me good

C

G

F

C

Know it gets me through

Capo:

II

C

G

F

C

Am

G

C

x2

C

G

F

C

Now come all aboard, back in 1904

Am

G

F

I was headed for the Cumberland Gap

C

G

F

C

When a hard summer rain brought death to my train

Am

F

G

Colorado come to wash me out

F

G

Well the head engineer said, "Hear and hear clear

C

G

F

Better hang on and hold your cap"

C

G

F

C

And before I could jump, well, those mighty rails sunk

Am

G

F

And the whole damn bridge collapsed

C

G

F

C

Well, oh my, I'm a train in the sky

Am

F

G

Sweet Lord, let me feel no fear

C

G

F

C

And before I go down, please tell Barbara Brown

Am

G

C

Well, I love you, my darling, my dear |

C

G

|

F

C

|

Am

G

|

F

| Now the children were crying, all the luggage went flying There was coal rolling everywhere And there were lovers in the aisle, knotted up in a pile Goin' hard despite our deep despair And as we tumbled away to that still water grave There was sorrow amongst the air While the Bible was read, well, I bowed down my head And I prayed out my final prayer Well, oh my, I'm a train in the sky Sweet Lord, let me feel no fear And before I go down, please tell Barbara Brown Well, I love you, my darling, my dear |

C

G

|

F

C

|

Am

G

|

F

| |

C

G

|

F

C

|

Am

|

G

| Now I held my chest and we all held our breath 'Cause we was gettin' down to the end And while that cold water brewed, the train whistle blew

Am

G

And it sounded like a howling wind And from the corner of my eye I saw an angel disguised As a man with a violin And he sang us a song, it didn't last very long So we asked him to sing it again Well, oh my, I'm a train in the sky Sweet Lord, let me feel no fear And before I go down, please tell Barbara Brown Well, I love you, my darling, my dear

C

G

C

You know I love you, my darling, my dear

C

G

C

Yes I love you, my darling, my dear

C

G

F

Am

G

F

C

G

F

Well I've been in this Junk Town most of my life

Am

G

F

Junkin' through many troubled years

C

G

F

Spending all my money on me and my junked-out wife

Am

G

F

Trying to keep away those cold sweat fears

C

G

F

And glory, glory, we are awaitin'

Am

G

F

C

G

That sweet someday, when we leave our troubles

F

Am

G

F

And are taken so far away Well, I hate to see the winter bring that dreadful cold It never did nobody any good Burning up in the summer, hauling those heavy loads And heaven knows, I'd quit it if I could And glory, glory, we are awaitin' That sweet someday, when we leave our troubles And are taken so far away

C

G

F

Am

G

F

x2

Sometimes when I'm drinking, I sit alone and wait For the sun to fade out from the sky And I wish I was leaving to find another fate And all the while knowing where I'll die And glory, glory, we are awaitin' That sweet someday, when we leave our troubles And are taken so far away

Am

G

F

So far away

Capo:

I

G

Em

D

Looked like a hundred guns held on me

Am

C

Em

Hunkered by the shed of Detroit General and Company

D

C

Calling, "Boy, come out, we have you jailed!" Beside the buck-shot door, I stood still Wondering how the hell the bastards found me in those hills And clinging to a letter that I wish I'd mailed

Em

D

Go rest easy, Madeline

Am

C

Em

I'm bringing down the bank across this flooded county line

D

C

And when I get home, we'll have a grand old time

Em

D

But don't you shed no tears or be surprised

Am

G/b

C

Em

If you get the word that your wild man has up and died

D

C

Just set me up a stone on that high hillside |

Em

|

D

|

Am

|

C

| Now in the pouring snow, sad, but swift I headed down the highway, hoping that the burden of my blues would lift And praying that the whiskey would keep me brave Oh, but I got caught in the cold Looking like a hobo without no mercy from the road And feeling like a dead man without a grave Go rest easy, Madeline I'm bringing down the bank across this flooded county line And when I get home, we'll have a grand old time But don't you shed no tears or be surprised If you get the word that your wild man has up and died Just set me up a stone on that high hillside (

Em

) Oh my, oh my |

Em

|

D

|

Am

|

C

| |

Em

|

D

|

C

|

C

| Bloodied-up and chained, my legs pinned down I woke to find my fate in the hands of four men gathered 'round And cursing for the bag they knew I'd hid And the more they stomped and moaned, the more I prayed Feeling every spark flying off of that file and their rusted blade Said, better think it through, this is your last chance, kid Go rest easy, Madeline I'm bringing down the bank across this flooded county line And when I get home, we'll have a grand old time But don't you shed no tears or be surprised If you get the word that your wild man has up and died Just set me up a stone on that high hillside

C

F

Bb

Lovin' you, is a pain I found

F

And I'm just a fool

C7

For hanging 'round

Bb

F

You come and you go

Bb

The whole week through

Gm

F

C

While I'm here at home, all alone

Bb

F

Loving you

F

F7

Well if you'd just take the time

Bb

And show you care

F

And then sit by my side

C7

Let me know you're there

Bb

F

But you put on your best

Bb

Like I don't have a clue

Gm

F

And you're gone like the wind

C7

F

And I'm stuck again, loving you

C

And you know I've grown tired

Bb

F

Of the waiting, dark wine

C7

When you see me in tears

Bb

C7

How could you think that I'm fine?

Bb

F

You're breaking my heart

F7

Bb

And you know it's true

Gm

F

So tell me how come

C

Bb

F

I can't keep from loving you

Bb

F

So tell me how come

C

Bb

F

I can't keep from loving you

E

A

E

It's a country jungle 'round here

E

B7

A

When that August sun gets hot

E

B7

Puttin' out the kind of heat

A

B7

That paints a gray haze across the sky

E

B7

The horse-weed's high as a barn

A

B7

That's been sittin' there waitin' to rot

E

A

E

Ever since old Sam laid the checkbook down

E

B7

E

And bought out the 'baccer plot

B7

A

E

I ain't got no roarin' train to hop

A

B7

And take me to the shore

E

A

E

But you know it's alright, it's just the kind of life

E

B7

E

That nobody lives no more |

E

B

|

A

|

x2

I know a man with a metal touch You know, could fix anything you had Could pull my car right up in his yard No matter what time or what went bad Well, the other night I lost both headlights And when I called to make sure he was home He said there ain't no demand for a shade tree man Junked every piece and part I owned I ain't got no roarin' train to hop And take me to the shore But you know it's alright, it's just the kind of life That nobody lives no more

Instrumental

I got a quaint and quiet friend You know, he hardly speaks a word at all Spends half his time starin' down at the pine And the other trippin' into walls Well, a week has passed since I seen him last he was barreling up a crowded street While all the traffic raged, straight ahead, unfazed Burnin' holes in both his aimless feet I ain't got no roarin' train to hop And take me to the shore But you know it's alright, it's just the kind of life That nobody lives no more

E

B7

A

A7

E

That nobody lives no more

Capo:

II

|

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

Am

Fadd9

Mary almost made it to twenty-nine The mother of an orphan and a friend of mine Painted up with high heels on her feet Making what she could from this filthy street

Am

Fadd9

Am

Fadd9

Dead on the river yesterday Been gutted like some varmint, so they say With a tangled rope around her, she was bound Dead on the river, rolling down |

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

| Well, I was quotin' scripture at an early age The old man ruled his household in a gospel rage Up and down our hallway, the Bible spilled Left behind a sinner in the mill and field Dead on the river yesterday I don't know how much longer that I can stay They're saying now there were two more bodies found Dead on the river, rolling down |

Am

Fadd9

|

Am

Fadd9

|

x3

The Feds are in their best suits, pulling rank Scattered out with their bloodhounds along the bank And the city lights, they flicker on the one-lane bridge The siren echoes bouncing along the ridge Dead on the river yesterday I need a flood to wash my sins away Like an ancient hickory, twisted, turning brown Dead on the river, rolling down |

Am

Fadd9

| ...

Capo:

II

C

Em

F

C

In a heavy rain standing off an old county road

Am

G

F

C

'Side a high rolling river so swift

C

Em

F

C

There was a hitchhiking stranger, quite pale from the cold

Am

G

F

C

On a cane, tryin' to thumb down a lift

C

Em

F

C

Well, I pulled up beside him and let my window on down

Am

F

G

To the rain and the bone-chilling wind

C

Em

F

C

Said "You look awful worn in this late-winter storm

Am

G

F

C

Which way are you headed, my friend?"

F

G

F

C

"Right up to the spotlight

Am

F

G

Drinkin' all that Coke and gin

C

Em

F

C

And I'll be suit-wearin' man with gold in my hand

Am

G

F

C

If today doesn't do me in"

Instrumental verse

Behind a gas station counter, moving crates full of things That looked far too heavy for her There stood a girl with a frown, said, "Let me just set these down And I'll be right with you, sir" I said, "No hurry here, take all the time that you want" She said, "A little time and you just wait and see Oh, I'll be without a care, when I finally get there" I said, "Miss, tell me where might that be" Right up to the spotlight Drinkin' all that Coke and gin And I'll be a dress-wearin' girl with the heels and the pearls If today doesn't do me in If today doesn't do me in Well, I got a head-full this morning, cuttin' out through the fog You know, I can't help but wonder what's left From every road that dead-ends, to those old bitter men Passing time on the old courthouse steps And there's a feeling you get, not far from despair That sometimes sets in on your mind But if it's all that you've got, you still set the clock And get up with a reason to climb Right up to the spotlight Drinking all that coke and gin And I'll leave these shadows behind for a new peace of mind If today doesn't do me in If today doesn't do me in

Capo:

IV

Dm

F

I saw him down in a dump, hurlin' arm-loads of junk

Am

G

Into a pickup bound for the yard

Dm

F

He was skittish and strange like a wild dog with mange

G

Dm

And there was blood where his veins ran hard Wadin' deep through the grime, he found a long copper line Then he jumped up and leaped to the ground And you'd thought he'd struck gold, the way he kicked and he rolled And like a bandit, he tore outta town

Dm

F

Whoa, now, he's out on the prowl

Am

G

You better get up and go back inside

Dm

F

'Cause he's loose on the land, gettin' all that he can

Am

G

And there won't be nowhere to hide

Dm

F

Yeah, he's crawling his way to that fix for the day

Am

G

You won't stop him, he's bent to be fed

Dm

F

He's the low-heathen kind with a shit-mangled mind

G

F

(

Dm

) The desperate, fucking meth head |

Dm

|

F

|

Am

|

G

| |

Dm

|

F

|

G

|

G

| There was a girl, tall and thin, with scabulous skin Inside a rest stop I won't soon forget She was diggin' at a rash, trying to deal for some cash Sayin' baby I'm clean and I'm wet I just kept pacin' by swattin' through the flies And her stench, rancid and stout While she stood their cryin' please with her fist between her knees And the sores drainin' round her mouth Whoa, now, she's out on the prowl You better get up and go back inside 'Cause she's loose on the land, getting all that she can And there won't be nowhere to hide Yeah, she'll bum and she'll beg and she'll gnaw at your leg You can't kill her, she's already dead She's the empty-eyed soul the zombie-like foe The fiending, fuckin' meth head It'll be dark pretty soon, they love to lurk by the moon So, I'm out back shovelling the dirt I'm gonna dig me a hole as deep as I can go And when they fall I'm gonna cover 'em up Oh, now, they're out on the prowl You better get up and go back inside 'Cause their sweepin' the land, getting all that they can And there won't be nowhere to hide They got the taste on their tongues, their fates have been hung It's a fever that's already spread From out far and wide they're the fit to be tied The worthless, fuckin' meth head |

Dm

|

F

|

Am

|

G

|

x2

Am

Em

G

F

Am

G

F

Am

C

G

F

Am

G

Am

Em

G

F

They got the farmhouse burning, watched it burn to the ground

Am

Em

G

F

Smoke filled the horizon just, two miles from town

Am

Em

G

F

There was no need to worry, there was no one who'd care

Am

G

Am

It was a dog den where good men were rare

Am

Em

G

F

With the wheels on the highway through the cold autumn rain

Am

Em

G

F

Out came the pistols and a book full of names

Am

Em

G

F

Thumbing each one who'd sing out the words

Am

G

Am

Facing hard time is an old junkie curse

F

G

Am

On down between the country

F

G

Am

Where deer lay, along the road

F

G

Am

On down between the country

F

G

Am

Where a long life is a blessed one, I'm told

Em

G

F

When they caught up with Henry, he was out in his yard

Am

Em

G

F

Splitting that beechwood before the winter hit hard

Am

Em

G

F

Laid a bullet in his back, watched him drop like a rock

Am

G

Am

And come to rest 'cross that old chopping block

Am

Em

G

F

Anne Carol ran the uppers from the laundry downtown

Am

Em

G

F

Played online poker when there was no one around

Am

G

F

And except for a few strays in the dead parking lot

Am

G

Am

Not a soul heard the thud or the shot

F

G

Am

On down between the country

F

G

Am

Where deer lay, along the road

F

G

Am

On down between the country

F

G

Am

Where a long life is a blessed one, I'm told

Am

F

Am

F

Am

Ian Noe : Between The Country
2019

Irene (Ravin' Bomb)

Barbara's Song

Junk Town

Letter To Madeline

Loving You

That Kind Of Life

Dead On The River (Rolling Down)

If Today Doesn't Do Me In

Meth Head

Between The Country

Ian Noe : Between The Country 2019

Irene (Ravin' Bomb)

Barbara's Song

Junk Town

Letter To Madeline

Loving You

That Kind Of Life

Dead On The River (Rolling Down)

If Today Doesn't Do Me In

Meth Head

Between The Country

Ian Noe : Between The Country
2019