Blind Willie McTell

Seen the arrow on the door post saying "This land is condemned" All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem I traveled through East Texas where many martyrs fell And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell Well, I heard the hoot-owl singing as they were taking down the tents The stars above all the barren trees were his only audience Yeah, them charcoal gypsy maidens can strut their feathers well And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell See them big plantations a-burning, can't you hear the cracking of the whips Smell that sweet magnolia blossom blooming, see the ghosts of the slavery ships Well, I can hear them tribes a-moanin', I can hear the undertaker's bell And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell There's a woman she's standing by the river, she is with some fine young handsome man See he's all dressed just like a squire, he's got bootleg whiskey in his hand Yeah, there's a chain-gang out on the highway and I can hear them rebels yell And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell God, oh God is in Heaven and we all want what is His But the power and greed, the corruptible seed seems to be all that there is Hey, hey, I'm a-gazing out the window of the St. James Hotel And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell Hey, hey, I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell