Blind Willie McTell lyrics

[Verse 1]
Seen the arrow on the door post
Sayin', "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

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
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
[Verse 4]
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

[Verse 5]
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

[Refrain]
Hey, hey, I know one thing, nobody can sing
Them blues like Blind Willie McTell