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Johnny Cash : Misc: Early

  1. A Boy Named Sue
  2. Big River
  3. Cocaine Blues
  4. Five Feet High And Risin'
  5. Folsom Prison Blues
  6. Get Rhythm
  7. Ghost Riders In The Sky
  8. I Still Miss Someone
  9. I Walk The Line
  10. Jackson
  11. Ring Of Fire
  12. Rock Island Line
  13. Wabash Cannonball

A Boy Named Sue
1969

<Shel Silverstein>
Capo:
I
A
My daddy left home when I was three
D
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
E
A
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze
A
Now, I don't blame him 'cause he run and hid
D
But the meanest thing that he ever did
E
A
Was before he left, he went and named me Sue Well, he must've thought that is quite a joke And it got a lot of laughs from a-lots of folk It seems I had to fight my whole life through Some gal would giggle and I'd get red And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean My fist got hard and my wits got keen I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame But I made a vow to the moon and stars That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars And kill that man who gave me that awful name Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid July And I just hit town and my throat was dry I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew At an old saloon on a street of mud There at a table, dealing stud Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me Sue Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye He was big and bent and gray and old And I looked at him and my blood ran cold And I said: "My name is Sue! How do you do? Now you gonna die!" Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes And he went down, but to my surprise He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear But I busted a chair right across his teeth And we crashed through the wall and into the street Kicking and a-gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer I tell ya, I've fought tougher men But I really can't remember when He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss He went for his gun and I pulled mine first He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile And he said: "Son, this world is rough And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along So I give ya that name and I said goodbye I knew you'd have to get tough or die And it's the name that helped to make you strong" He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight And I know you hate me, and you got the right To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do But ya ought to thank me, before I die For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye 'Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you Sue I got all choked up and I threw down my gun And I called him my pa, and he called me his son And I came away with a different point of view And I think about him, now and then Every time I try and every time I win And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him...
A
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

Big River
1958

e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------|
A|---2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5--------|
E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0------|
E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry
F#
B7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
A
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River
E
B7
E
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die I met her accidentally in St Paul Minnesota And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl her Southern drawl Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin' in Davenport And I followed you, Big River, when you called Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf She loves you, Big River, more than me Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die

Cocaine Blues
1968

Capo:
I
C
Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
C
G
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
G
I went right home and I went to bed
C
I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun Took a shot of cocaine and away I run Made a good run but I run too slow They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico Late in the hot joints takin' the pills In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down Said yes, oh yes my name is Willy Lee If you've got the warrant just a-read it to me Shot her down because she made me slow I thought I was her daddy but she had five more When I was arrested I was dressed in black They put me on a train and they took me back Had no friend for to go my bail They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail Early next mornin' about a half past nine I spied the sheriff coming down the line Talked and he coughed as he cleared his throat He said, come on you dirty heck into that district court Into the courtroom my trial began Where I was handled by twelve honest men Just before the jury started out I saw the little judge commence to look about In about five minutes in walked a man Holding the verdict in his right hand The verdict read in the first degree I hollered Lordy, Lordy, have a mercy on me! The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen Ninety nine years in the Folsom Pen Ninety nine years underneath that ground I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down
C
F
Come on you've gotta listen unto me
G
C
Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be

Five Feet High And Risin'
1959

Capo:
I
Key:
A
A
How high's the water, Mama? Two feet high and risin' How high's the water, Papa? Two feet high and risin'
A
We can make it to the road, in a homemade boat
A
That's the only thing we got left that'll float
E
It's already over all the wheat and the oats
E
A
Two feet high and risin'
Modulate to:
C
C
How high's the water, Mama? Three feet high and risin' How high's the water, Papa? Three feet high and risin'
C
Well, the hives are gone, I've lost my bees
C
The chickens are sleepin' in the willow trees
G
Cow's in water up past her knees
G
C
Three feet high and risin'
Modulate to:
D
D
How high's the water, Mama? Four feet high and risin' How high's the water, Papa? Four feet high and risin'
D
Hey, come look through the window pane
A
The bus is comin', gonna take us to the train
A
Looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain
A
D
Four feet high and risin'
Modulate to:
E
E
How high's the water, Mama? Five feet high and risin' How high's the water, Papa? Five feet high and risin'
E
Well, the rails are washed out north of town
E
We gotta head for higher ground
B
We can't come back, till the water comes down
B
E
Five feet high and risin'
E
Well, it's five feet high and risin'

Folsom Prison Blues
1955

|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------1-1---------|
|---2-2-----2-------|
|-------------3-0---|
E
I hear the train a-coming, it's rolling round the bend
E7
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
A
E
I'm stuck at Folsom Prison, and time keeps draggin' on
B7
E
But that train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone When I was just a baby, my Mama told me, Son Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free But those people keep a moving, and that's what tortures me Well, if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line Far from Folsom Prison, that's where I want to stay And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away

Get Rhythm
1956

E
Hey, get rhythm, when you get the blues
A
E
Come on, get rhythm, when you get the blues Get a rock and roll feelin' in your bones Put taps on your toes and get gone
A
B7
E
Get rhythm when you get the blues
E
A little shoe-shine boy never gets low down But he's got the dirtiest job in town Bending low at the peoples feet On the windy corner of a dirty street When I asked him while he shined my shoe How'd he keep from getting the blues? He grinned as he raised his little head He popped his shoe-shine rag and then he said Get rhythm, when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm, when you get the blues A jumpin' rhythm makes you feel so fine It'll shake all your trouble from your worried mind Get rhythm, when you get the blues |
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
| |
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
| |
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
| |
A
|
A
|
B7
|
E
|
E
| Get rhythm, when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues Get a rock and roll feelin' in your bones Put taps on your toes and get gone Get rhythm when you get the blues Well I sat and I listened to the shoe-shine boy And I thought I was gonna jump for joy Slapped on the shoe polish left and right He took his shoe-shine rag and he held it tight He stopped once to wipe the sweat away I said "You mighty little boy to be a-working that way" He said "I like it" with a big wide grin Kept on a poppin' and he say it again Get rhythm, when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm, when you get the blues It only cost a dime, just a nickel a shoe It does a million dollars worth of good for you Get rhythm, when you get the blues

Ghost Riders In The Sky
1979

<Stan Jones>
Capo:
I
Am
C
An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day
Am
C
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
Am
When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
F
Dm
Am
A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw
Am
C
Yippee yi oh
C
Am
Yippee yi yay
F
Dm
Am
Ghost Riders in the sky Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky For he saw the Riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry Yippee yi oh Yippee yi yay Ghost Riders in the sky
Instrumental verse
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet 'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky On horses snorting fire as they ride on hear their cry As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name If you want to save your soul from Hell a-riding on our range Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride Trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies Yippee yi oh Yippee yi yay Ghost Riders in the sky Ghost Riders in the sky Ghost Riders in the sky

I Still Miss Someone
1958

A
D
E
At my door the leaves are falling
D
E
A
The cold wild wind will come
A
D
E
Sweethearts walk by together
D
E
A
And I still miss someone I go out to the wild parties And look for a little fun But I find the darkened corner 'Cause I still miss someone
A
D
E
A
Though I never got over those blue eyes
A
D
E
A
I see them everywhere
A
D
E
A
I miss those arms that held me
A
D
E
A
When all the love was there I wonder if she's sorry for For leaving what we had begun There's someone for me somewhere And I still miss someone Though I never got over those blue eyes I see them everywhere I miss those arms that held me When all the love was there I wonder if she's sorry for For leaving what we had begun There's someone for me somewhere And I still miss someone

I Walk The Line
1956

Capo:
I
Key:
E
A
D
A
E
-------|--------------|---------------|---------------|--------------|
-------|--------------|-0-----0-0-----|---------------|--------------|
-------|-0----0-0-2-4-|----0------3-2-|-0-----0-0-----|----2-2-----0-|
-0-2-4-|----0---------|---------------|----0------4-2-|-0------0-2---|
B7
E
|-------------||----------||
|---1---------||----------|| x4
|-2---2-0-----||---2---2--||
|---------4-2-||-0---0----||
B7
E
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
B7
E
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
A
E
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
B7
E
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Modulate to:
A
A
Walk up: --------||----------||
--------||----------|| x4
--------||-0---0----||
--0-2-4-||---0---0--||
E7
A
I find it very, very easy to be true
E7
A
I find myself alone when each day is through
D
A
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
E7
A
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Modulate to:
D
D
Walk up: --------||---------||
--------||-0---0---|| x4
--0-2-4-||---0---0-||
--------||---------||
A7
D
As sure as night is dark and day is light
A7
D
I keep you on my mind both day and night
G
D
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
A7
D
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Modulate to:
A
A
Walk down: --------||---------||
--0-----||---------|| x4
----4-2-||-0---0---||
--------||---0---0-||
E7
A
You've got a way to keep me on your side
E7
A
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
D
A
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
E7
A
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Modulate to:
E
E
Walk down: --------||---------||
--------||---------|| x4
--0-----||---2---2-||
----4-2-||-0---0---||
B7
E
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
B7
E
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
A
E
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
B7
E
Because you're mine, I walk the line
||---------||
||---------|| ...
||---2---2-||
||-0---0---||

Jackson
1967

<Edd Wheeler>
C
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
C
C7
We've been talking 'bout Jackson ever since the fire went out
C
F
C
I'm going to Jackson, gonna mess around
C
F
G7
C
Yeah, I'm going to Jackson, look out Jackson town Go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health Go play your hand, you big talking man, and make a big fool of yourself Yeah, go to Jackson, go comb your hair Yeah, I'm gonna snowball Jackson, see if I care When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow All them women gonna make me teach 'em what they don't know how Aw, I'm going to Jackson, turn a-loose of my coat Yeah, I'm going to Jackson, goodbye, that's all she wrote I'm gonna laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancin' on a pony keg They'll lead ya round town like a scalded hound, with your tail tucked between your legs Yeah, go to Jackson, you big talking man And I'll be waiting in Jackson, behind my Japan fan We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout We've been talking 'bout Jackson ever since the fire went out I'm going to Jackson, and that's a fact Yeah, I'm going to Jackson, ain't never comin' back

Ring Of Fire
1963

|
G
C
G
|
G
D
G
|
G
C
G
Love is a burning thing
G
D
G
And it makes a fiery ring
G
C
G
Bound by wild desire
G
D
G
I fell into a ring of fire
D
C
G
I fell into a burning ring of fire
D
C
G
I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher
G
C
G
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
D
G
The ring of fire |
G
C
G
|
G
D
G
|
x2
I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire The taste of love is sweet When hearts like ours meet I fell for you like a child Oh, but the fire went wild I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire

Rock Island Line
1957

<Trad>
Capo:
I
E
Now this here's a story about the Rock Island Line Well the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans There's a big toll gate down there and you know If you got certain things on board when you go through the toll gate Well you don't have to pay the man no toll Well a train driver he pulled up to the toll gate And a man hollered and asked him what all he had on board and he said I got livestock I got livestock I got cows I got pigs I got sheep I got mules I got all live stock Well he said you're alright boy you don't have to pay no toll You can just go right on through so he went on through the toll gate And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed Pickin' up a little bit of steam He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said Well I fooled you I fooled you I got pig-iron I got pig-iron I got old pig-iron
E
Down the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
E
B7
Rock Island Line is the road to ride
E
Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
E
Well if you ride, you got to ride it like you find it
E
B7
E
Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
E
Looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
B7
Round the curve came a passenger train
B7
North bound train on a southbound track He's alright a leavin' but he won't be back Down the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road Rock Island Line is the road to ride Rock Island Line is a mighty good road Well if you ride, you got to ride it like you find it Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
E
Oh I may be right and I may be wrong
B7
E
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
E
Well the engineer said before he died
B7
There were two more drinks that he'd like to try
B7
The conductor said what could they be A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea Down the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road Rock Island Line is the road to ride Rock Island Line is a mighty good road Well if you ride, you got to ride it like you find it Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line

Wabash Cannonball
1966

<Trad; Roud 4228>
Chuck Berry used this melody for Promised Land.
E
E
B
B
B
E
D
D
D
G
From the great Atlantic Ocean to the wide Pacific shore
A
D
She climbs the flowery mountains over the hills and by the shores
D
G
She's mighty tall and handsome, she's known quite well by all
A
D
She's a regular combination on the Wabash Cannonball Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar As she glides along the woodlands, over the hills and by the shore Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear those lonesome hobos call Traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball
D
D
D
G
A
A
A
D
B
E
E
E
A
Now she came down from Birmingham one cold September day
B
E
As she pulled into the station, you could hear all the people say
E
A
She's from Tennessee, she's long and she's tall
B
E
She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar As she glides along the woodlands over the hills and by the shore Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear those lonesome hobos call Traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball
E
E
E
A
B
B
B
E
E
Here's to Daddy Claxton may his name forever stand And always be remembered in the courts throughout the land His earthly race is over and the curtains round him fall They'll carry him home to Dixie on the Wabash Cannonball Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar As she glides along the woodlands over the hills and by the shore Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear those lonesome hobos call Traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball
B
B
B
E
E