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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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****************** TO BEAT THE DEVIL ******************
written and performed by Kris Kristofferson.
Verse 1:(spoken)
G C/G G
It was winter time in Nashville,down on music city row
D C/G
And i was lookin' for a place to get myself out of the cold
G Em C/G
To warm the frozen feelin' that was eatin' at my soul
D
And keep the chilly wind off my guitar
Verse 2:(spoken)
G C/G G
My thirsty wanted whisky,my hungry needed beans
D
But it'd been of month of paydays since i've heard that eagle scream
C/G G Em C/G
So with my stomach full of empty and my pockets full of dreams
D
I left my pride and stepped inside a bar
Bridge:(spoken)
Em C/G
Actually i guess you'd could call it a Tavern...
D
Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and stardust on the floor
G
Friendly shadows
Verse 3:(spoken)
G C/G G
I saw that there was just one old man sittin' at the bar
D C/G
And in the mirror i could see him checkin' me and my guitar
G Em C/G
He turned,and said "Come up here boy,and show us what you are"
D
I said "I'm dry"-and he brought me a beer
Verse 1-bis:(spoken)
G C/G G
He nodded at my guitar and said "It's a tough life,ain't it"
D C/G
I just looked at him,and he said "You ain't makin' any money,are you?"
G Em C/G
I said "You've been readin' my mail".He just smiled and said "Let me see your guitar"
C/G G
I've got something you want to hear.Then he laid it on me
Verse sang 1:
G C/G
If you waste your time of talkin' to the people who don't listen
G D
To the things that you are sayin',who do you think's gonna hear
G C/G
And if you should die explaining how the things that they complain about
G D G
Are things they could be changin' who do you think's gonna care
D C/G G
There were other lonely singers in a world turned deaf and blind
D
Who were crucified for what they tried to show
G C/G G
And their voice's have been scattered by this world and winds of times
D G
Cause the truth remains that no one wants to know
Verse 4:(spoken)
G C/G G
Well,the old man was a stranger,but i'd heard his song before
D C/G
Back when failure had me locked out on the wrong side of the door
G Em C/G
When no one stood behind me but my shadow on the floor
D
And lonesome was more than a state of mind
Verse 2-bis:(spoken)
G C/G G
You see,the devil haunts a hungry man,and if you don't wanna join him
D C/G
You got to beat him
G Em C/G
I ain't sayin' i beat the devil but i drank his beer for nothing
G
Then i stole his song
Verse sang 2:
G C/G
And you still can hear me singin' to the people who don't listen
G D
To the things that i am sayin',prayin' someones gonna hear
G C/G
And i guess i'll die explainig how the things that they complain about
G D G
Are things they could be changin',hopin' someones gonna care
D C/G G
I was born a lonely singer,and i'm bound to die the same
D
But i've got to feed the hunger in my soul
G C/G G
And if i never have a nickle i won't ever die ashamed
D G
Cause i don't believe that no one wants to know
Thanks to Jan Ekeland for the lyrics.
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