ADD: Shiny Black Bess/Unwelcome Guest (Guthrie)

21 Mar 00 - 03:50 PM (#198820)
Subject: SHINY BLACK BESS
From: GUEST,George W. Rigney

Hello, a drummer here trying desperatly to play guitar. I've been doing it by picking great songs and learning the chords. Does anyone know all the chord changes to Shiny Black Bess? The final song on Billy Bragg/Wilco album of Woodie Guthrie songs.

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22 Mar 00 - 12:08 PM (#199179)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: SHINY BLACK BESS
From: Sorcha

If you will go HERE it is all there, chords and all.

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16 May 11 - 05:52 PM (#3155369)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: SHINY BLACK BESS
From: GUEST,Max Gomez

Yeah, you might be able to find something in your local retail music store. K&S music, Guitar Center, one of those multi million dollar stores should be able to get you some music at a fair price.

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16 May 11 - 06:11 PM (#3155376)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: UNWELCOME GUEST (Guthrie/Bragg)
From: Joe Offer

source: http://www.gumbopages.com/music/wilco/songs/the.unwelcome.guest.txt

  :::::::::::::::::::
  The Unwelcome Guest
  :::::::::::::::::::
  
  Words by Woody Guthrie 1940
  Music by Billy Bragg 1996
  
  Transcription by Howie Wang 
  
  
         C                 am       F            C
  To the rich man's bright lodges I ride in this wind
  C                  am          D           G
  On my good horse I call you my shiny Black Bess
         C            am
  To the playhouse of fortune
     F               C
  to take the bright silver
      C             am         F        C
  and gold you have taken from somebody else
  
  
      C        am            F          C
  and as we go riding in the damp foggy midnight 
      C              am            D            G
  you snort, my good pony, and you give me your best
          C           am         F  
  for you know, and I know, good horse,
             C
  'monst the rich ones
      C          am          F         C
  how oftimes we go there an unwelcome guest
  
       C          am            F          C
  I've never took food from the widows and orphans
      C       am           D     G
  and never a hard working man I oppressed
     C              am
  so take your pace easy,
      F              C
  for home soon like lightning
     C            am         F           F
  we soon will be riding, my shiny black Bess
  
     C              am       F        C
  no fat rich man's pony can ever overtake you
      C             am             D           G
  and there's not a rider from the east to the west
        C          am
  could hold you a light 
          F             C  
  in this dark mist and midnight
           C          am
  when the potbellied thieves 
            F         C
  chase the unwelcome guest
  
  C                 am               
  I don't know good horse
        F            C
  as we trot in this dark here
       C           am          D            G
  that robbing the rich is for worse or for best
       C          am           F         C
  they take it by stealing and lying and gambling
      C            am      F           C
  and I take it my way, my shiny Black Bess
  
    C            am           F           C
  I treat horses good and I'm friendly to strangers
    C             am               D             G
  I ride and your running makes my guns talk the best
          C           am           
  and the rangers and deputies
      F            C
  are hired by the rich man 
     C            am          F             C
  to catch me and hang me, my shining Black Bess
  
       C                am          F
  Yes, they'll catch me napping one day
              C
  and they'll kill me
      C            am            D           G
  and then I'll be gone but that won't be my end
         C           am          F         C
  For my guns and my saddle will always be filled
     C         am             F           C
  by unwelcome travellers and other brave men
  
              C        am        F              C
  and they'll take the money and spread it out equal
  C             am            D        G       
  Just like the bible and the prophets suggest
          C           am        F               C
  but the men that go riding to help these poor workers
      C             am           F         C
  the rich will cut down like an unwelcome guest
  
  
  

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