Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'

Subject: Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'
From: Robo
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 01:30 PM

I've been looking for a long time for the chords to a song called "The Ballad of Sid Hatfield" (Mike Caplinger and Granny's 12 Gauge, Copyright 1997). Sid was lawman on the side of striking coal miners and was involved in the infamous Matewan Massacre shootout with Baldwin-Felts detectives in Matewan, West Virginia, 80 years ago. (If you've seen John Sayles's outstanding movie "Matewan," that's the basic story.) The lyrics are below, but I've never heard the tune! Be great if someone could help me out with this. Thanks!

"The Ballad of Sid Hatfield"

Hey Sid Hatfield I heard they shot you dead As you lie bleedin' on the courthouse steps they put another bullet into your head

Hey Sid Hatfield What would you have done If you'd gone to town that day carrying your guns

Yeah if you'd took along a few God would have forgiven you But maybe that's not right to say He might be in the company's pay

Hey coal train roll on by Carry us off when we die To that last reward in the sky

Hey my brothers Keep this song in mind When you see the portal of that ragged old coal mine

Hey my sisters Don't you spend your time Waitin' for your lovers to come back from the mine

Yeah the way is dark and the roof is weak Into his lungs the dust will seep He won't see the light of day If number 3 blows up today

Hey coal train roll on by Carry us off when we die To that last reward in the sky

Hey Sid hey Sid What would you have said If those Baldwin-Felts hadn't filled you up with lead

Hey Sid hey Sid This I know is true If you've got one life to give the company wants two

A thousand feet below the ground A scream is such a subtle sound As the men in suits adjust a graph We drop a tombstone down the shaft Hey coal train roll on by Carry us off when we die To that great gob pile in the sky

Subject: RE: Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'
From: Robo
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:45 PM

Aye, a full day and a half and no reply? Could it be this query has stumped us all?

Subject: RE: Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 05:50 AM

Rob,

I found a site for Granny's 12 Gauge here, which says it has an mp3 of The Ballad of Sir Hatfield.

I downlaoded the file to try and work out the chords for you, but the 'song' is simlpy a collection of different steam whistles playing no discernible melody. Sorry...

Ed

Subject: RE: Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'
From: Robo
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 12:19 AM

Ed . . . Thanks very much for the tip. Those steam whistles are annoying, aren't they? At least there was an email on the site for contacting the band and I've requested the songwriter's assistance. Can't thank you enough for helping me out. Will let you know what I hear back. -- Rob-o

Subject: RE: Chords to 'Ballad of Sid Hatfield'
From: Robo
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 06:18 PM

The train whistles were the result of an error in file posting. The correct version, I'm told, will be posted shortly.