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Steve Earle : Guitar Town
1986


  1. Guitar Town
  2. Goodbye's All We've Got Left
  3. Hillbilly Highway
  4. Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)
  5. My Old Friend The Blues

  6. Someday
  7. Think It Over
  8. Fearless Heart
  9. Little Rock And Roller
  10. Down The Road

Guitar Town

G
Hey pretty baby are you ready for me
C
/c
/b
/a
It's your good rockin' daddy down from Tennessee
D
I'm just out of Austin bound for San Antone
C
With the radio blastin' and the bird dog on
C
G
|------------------------------------|-------|
|------------------------------------|-------|
|------------------------------------|-------|
|------------------------------------|-------|
|-2/3-3-3--2/3-3-3--2/3-3-3--3-2-0---|-------|
|----------------------------------2-|-3-----|
G
There's a speed trap up ahead in Selma Town
C
/c
/b
/a
But no local yokel gonna shut me down
D
'Cause me and my boys got this rig unwound
C
G
And we've come a thousand miles from a Guitar Town
G
C
D
C
D
G
|-----------------|--------------|--------------|---------------|------|
|-------0-----0-3-|-1--------1-0-|--------------|-----1-0-------|------|
|-0-0-0---2-0-----|--------0-----|-2------------|---0-----2-0---|-0~---|
|-----------------|----0-2-------|---0-0----0h1-|-2-----------4-|------|
|-----------------|--------------|--------------|---------------|------|
|-----------------|--------------|--------------|---------------|------|
Nothin' ever happened round my hometown And I ain't the kind to just hang around But I heard someone callin' my name one day And I followed that voice down the lost highway Everybody told me you can't get far On thirty-seven dollars and a Jap guitar Now I'm smokin' into Texas with the hammer down And a rockin' little combo from the Guitar Town
Repeat solo 1
D
Hey pretty baby don't you know it ain't my fault
C
G
I love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt
D
Wake up in the middle of the night in a truck stop
C
D7
Stumble in the restaurant wonderin' why I don't stop
Gotta keep rockin' why I still can I gotta two pack habit and a motel tan But when my boots hit the boards I'm a brand new man With my back to the riser I make my stand Hey pretty baby won't you hold me tight We're loadin' up and rollin' out of here tonight One of these days I'm gonna settle down And take you back with me to the Guitar Town
Repeat solo 1, followed by
-----|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
---1-|---------------------3-5-|-------1-3-----------------1-------------|
-0---|-4-2-0---0-0-4-2-0-4-----|-----0-----2-------------0---4-2-0-2b-0~-|
-----|-------4-----------------|-0-2----------0-0--0-1-2-----------------|
-----|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
-----|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------|


Goodbye's All We've Got Left

D
G
D
|
D
A
D
|
D
G
D
|
D
A
D
D
G
D
G
D
I could tell it when I woke up this mornin'
D
A
D
G
D
'Cause I can smell it when a heartache's comin'
D
G
D
G
D
Not that I'm in such a hurry to lose you
D
G
D
G
D
I'd call you up but there's nothin' that I can do
G
A
D
G
D
Talkin' won't do any good anyway
D
A
D
G
D
'Cause goodbye's all we've got left to say
D
G
D
G
D
Not that I'm in such a hurry to lose you
G
A
D
G
D
I don't think that it'll get any better
D
G
D
G
D
So maybe you could just write me a letter
G
A
D
G
D
And I could open it up when I'm stronger
D
G
D
G
D
Another ten or twelve years, maybe longer
G
A
D
G
D
Guess I just don't feel much like bad news today
D
A
D
G
D
Goodbye's all we've got left to say
D
G
D
G
D
Don't try to call me 'cause I'm takin' my phone out
G
A
D
G
D
'Cause if it rings, I'll know what it's about
D
G
D
G
D
And don't you worry 'bout me 'cause I'm alright
D
G
D
G
D
Maybe you'll run into me somewhere, some night
G
A
D
G
D
And if you do just keep goin' your way
G
A
D
G
D
Goodbye's all we've got left to say


Hillbilly Highway

Intro (and played throughout):
G
C
/b
G
e|-----3-3-------------3-3-----|
B|-----3-3-------------3-3-----|
G|-----0-0-------------0-0-----|
D|-----0-0-3-0-2-0-----0-0---0-|
A|-------------------------3---|
E|-2h3-3-3---------2h3-3-3-----|
G
C
G
My granddaddy was a miner but he finally saw the light
G
C
G
He didn't have much just a beat up truck and a dream about a better life
G
C
G
Gran mamma cried when she waved goodbye, you never heard such a lonesome sound
G
C
G
Pretty soon the dirt road tuned to blacktop, Detroit city bound
C
G
C
G
Down that Hillbilly Highway
C
G
C
G
On that Hillbilly Highway
C
G
C
G
That old Hillbilly Highway, goes on and on
Now he worked and saved his money so that one day he might send My old man off to college to use his brain and not his hands Gran mama cried when she said goodbye, you never heard such a lonesome sound But daddy had himself a good job in Houston, one more rolling down That old Hillbilly Highway That old Hillbilly Highway That old Hillbilly Highway, rolls on and on Now granddaddy rolled over in hi grave the day that I quit school I just sat around the house playing my guitar, my daddy said "I was a fool!" My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound Now I'm standing on the highway and if you're going my way, you know where I'm bound Down that Hillbilly Highway That old Hillbilly Highway That old Hillbilly Highway, rolls on and on


Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)

Capo:
I
A
A7
D/a
A
Asus4
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---2----5----3----2------2----5----3----2--3-3-3-2----------|
G|---2----0----2----2------2----0----2----2--2-2-2-2----------|
D|---2----5----4----2------2----5----4----2--2-2-2-2----------|
A|---0----0----0----0------0----0----0----0--0-0-0-0----------|
E|---------------------0-3------------------------------------|
A
I got a job but it ain't nearly enough
A
A twenty thousand dollar pickup truck
G
A
Asus4
A
Belongs to me and the bank and some funny talkin' man from Iran
A
I left the service got a GI loan
A
I got married found myself a home
G
A
Now I hang around this one horse town doin' the best I can
Asus4
A
A7
D/a
A
A
A7
D/a
A
Gettin' tough Just my luck
A
E
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
A
A7
D/a
A
A
A7
D/a
A
Gettin' cold I've been told
D
E
A
Well nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
A
A7
D/a
A
A
A7
D/a
A
Asus4
A
Been goin' nowhere down a one way track I can't believe it but ain't no turnin' back Got the wife and the kids and what would everybody say My brother's standin' on the welfare line Any minute now I might get mine Meanwhile it's the IRS and the devil to pay Gettin' tough, Just my luck I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough Gettin' cold, I've been told Well nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
A
D
E
A
Well I hit the beer joint every Friday night
D
E
A
Spend a little money lookin' for a fight
D
E
A
And it don't matter if I lose or win
D
E
Cause Monday I'm back on the losin' end again
A
Gettin' tough Just my luck
A
E
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
A
Gettin' cold I've been told
D
E
A
Well nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
A
Gettin' tough Just my luck
A
E
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
A
Gettin' cold I've been told
D
E
A
Well nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
A
A7
D/a
A
A
A7
D/a
A


My Old Friend The Blues

G
Just when every ray of hope was gone
C
G
I should have known that you would come along
D
D7
I can't believe I ever doubted you
C
D7
G
My old friend the blues
G
Another lonely night in this town
C
G
The sleep don't take me first you'll come around
D
D7
I know I can always count on you
C
D7
G
My old friend the blues
G7
C
Lovers leave and friends will let you down
G
But you're the only sure thing that I found
D
D7
No matter what I do I'll never lose
C
D7
G
My old friend the blues
Instrumental verse
Lovers leave and friends will let you down And you're the only sure thing that I found No matter what I do I'll never lose My old friend the blues
G
D
D7
Just let me hide my weary heart in you
C
D7
G
My old friend the blues
|----7----5----3---|
|------------------|
|-7----5----4------|
|------------------|
|------------------|
|------------------|


Someday

G
C
D
G
C
D
G
C
D
G
G
C
D
G
There ain't a lot that you can do in this town You drive down to the lake and then you turn back around You go to school and you learn to read and write So you can walk into the county bank and sign away your life
Now I work at the fillin' station on the interstate I'm pumpin' gasoline and countin' out of state plates They ask me how far into Memphis son and where's the nearest beer They don't even know that there's a town around here
Em
C
D
G
Someday I'm finally gonna let go
Em
C
D
G
'Cause I know there's a better way
Em
C
D
G
And I wanna know what's over that rainbow
G
D
C
D
G
C
D
G
C
D
G
I'm gonna get out of here someday, someday
Now my brother went to college 'cause he played football I'm still hangin' round 'cause I'm a little bit small I got me a '67 Chevy she's low and sleek and black Someday I'll put her on that interstate and never look back
Em
C
D
G
Someday I'm finally gonna let go
Em
C
D
G
'Cause I know there's a better way
Em
C
D
G
And I wanna know what's over that rainbow
G
D
C
D
G
I'm gonna get out of here someday
D
C
D
G
C
D
G
I'm gonna get out of here someday
G
C
D
G
C
D
G
C
D
G
Someday someday


Think It Over

E* = Intro Riff
E** = Fast Strum End
E*** = Pre Chorus Riff
B* = Chorus Riff
V = Whammy Bar 1/2 note down
Intro] [Instrumental
E*
A
E**
E***
B
B7*
E
A
B
E
e|--------0-| e|---0-0-0-0-| e|-------2-| e|--------0-| e|----------------------|
B|--------2-| B|---0-0-0-0-| B|-------4-| B|--------0-| B|----------------------|
G|--------2-| G|---1-1-1-1-|x2 G|-------4-| G|--------1-| G|----------------------|
D|------2-2-| D|-----------| D|-------4-| D|--------2-| D|----------------------|
A|------0-0-| A|-----------| A|---0-1-2-| A|2-0-----2-| A|----------0----V------|
E|0-2-4---0-| E|-0---------| E|-------X-| E|----4-2-0-| E|0-2b3r2-4---0r-0------|
blue
|
E*
|
A
|
B
|
A
| |
B
|
A
|
B
|
E**
|
E**
E
B
A
B
A
You're here, you're gone, I'm still hanging on
B
E
B
This game ain't nothing new
E
B
A
B
A
You've changed your mind so many times
B
E***
B
I'm still in love with you
B
E
I'll think it over when you're walking out the door
F#
F#7
B7
B*
Why'd you go and leave me sad and blue?
E
B
A
B
G#
A
B
E
And if you knew what I go through, you'd think it over too
|
E
|
B
|
A
|
B
| |
A
|
B
|
E**
E
B
A
B
A
I hope someday I'll find a way
B
E
B
I'll walk right out on you
E
B
A
B
A
Till that day comes, I'm still the one
B
E
If you should need a fool
B
E
I'll think it over when you're walking out the door
F#
F#7
B7
B*
Why'd you go and leave me sad and blue?
E
B
A
B
G#
A
B
A
And if you knew what I go through, you'd think it over
B
A
You'd think it over
B
E*
You'd think it over too
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
B
| |
A
|
B
|
G#
G
|
B
E
|


Fearless Heart

|
Gsus4
G
|
x3
|
Dsus4
|
C
D
G
Don't you worry bout what you've been told
C
D
Em
Cause honey I ain't even close to cold
D
C
D
G
It's kind of soon to fall in love again
C
D
G
Sometimes the best that you can do is to jump back in
I got me a fearless heart Strong enough to get you through the scary part It's been broken many times before A fearless heart just comes back for more |
Gsus4
G
|
x3
|
Dsus4
| Folks 'll tell you that I'm just no good I wouldn't hurt you honey if I could Now I can't promise this'll work out right But it would kill me darling if we didn't even try I got me a fearless heart Strong enough to get you through the scary part It's been broken many times before A fearless heart just comes back for more
Instrumental verse
|
Gsus4
G
|
x2
|
Dsus4
| I admit I fall in love a lot But I nearly always give it my best shot I know you must think I'm the reckless kind But I want a lady with a fearless heart just like mine I got me a fearless heart Strong enough to get you through the scary part It's been broken many times before A fearless heart just comes back for more
Repeat chorus
Instrumental verse
|
Gsus4
G
| ...


Little Rock And Roller

E
A
E
A
E
A
B
E
Hey little guy, I can't believe you answered the phone
C#m
A
E
I guess I didn't know you could do that, God help me, have I been gone that long
E
A
B
E
I'm in a truck stop somewhere on the Arkansas line
C#m
A
E
They got all the big trucks here, boy, you ought to hear the big diesels whine
B
E
No little guy, your daddy won't be home for a while
C#m
A
B
It's gonna be another couple weeks and another couple thousand miles
E
A
E
So go to sleep little rock 'n' roller
A
E
Your daddy's up there knockin' 'em dead tonight
B
A
One of these days when you're a little older
F#
B
E
You can ride the big bus and everything will be alright
E
A
E
Until that day you got your mama to hold you
A
E
Don't be afraid when she turns out the light
A
E
Cause I know there's an angel just for rock 'n' rollers
B
E
Watchin' over you and your daddy tonight
E
A
B
E
No little guy, don't bother your mamma right now
C#m
A
E
I only got a minute and I called to talk to you anyhow
E
A
B
E
I know you miss me, God knows I'm thinkin' 'bout you
C#m
A
E
I got your picture in my wallet, it cheers me up sometimes when I'm blue
B
E
Well little guy, I'm gonna have to let you go
C#m
A
B
You know it's way past your bedtime, and they're tellin' me we got to roll


Down The Road

G
On the blue side of evenin'
Em
G
When the darkness takes control
You start lookin' for a reason
Em
C
G
To take your lonesome on down the road
G
'Cause the night is filled with strangers
Em
C
G
All you need is one you know
G
And if she ain't the one you're after
Em
C
G
Keep on lookin' on down the road
D
C
G
Though the miles lay long behind you
Em
C
G
You have still got miles to go
G
How's love ever gonna find you
Em
C
G
If it ain't here, it's down the road