| G | D | G | D | |
| Because they | said she was | not a good | mother |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D |
| They've taken her children away |
| G | D | G | D | |
| Because she was | making it with | sisters and | brothers |
| G | D | G | D | |
| And | everyone | else, | all of the | others |
| G | D | |
| Like | cheap offi | cers who would |
| G | D | A | A6 | As4 | A | |
| ^^^ | ^(th | ese variations this verse only) |
| Stand there and flirt in front of me |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D |
| G | D | G | D | |
| Ai | x | Gv | ii D Ds4 D |
| G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D | A |
| They've taken her children away |
| Because they said she was not a good mother |
| They've taken her children away |
| Because of the things that they said she had done |
| The black air-force sergeant was not the first one and |
| All of the drugs she took |
| G | D | A | A9 | A | |
| Every | one, every | one |
| (Chorus) |
| A A9hA A9hA |
| And I am the water boy |
| D | G | D | |
| The real game's not | over here |
| G D A A* A |
| But my heart is overflowing, anyw - a - y |
| A A9hA A9hA |
| I'm just the tired man |
| D | G | D | |
| No | words to say, | But |
| G A A9hA |
| Since she lost her daughter It's her |
| G A A9hA |
| Eyes that fill with water And |
| G | A | |
| I am much | happier this |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D |
| Way |
| G | D | G | D | |
| Ai | x | Gv | ii D Ds4 D |
| D |
| They're taking her children away |
| Because they said she was not a good mother |
| They're taking her children away |
| Because number one was the girlfriend from Paris |
| The things that they did they didn't have to ask us |
| And then the Welshmen from India, we came here to stay |
| They're taking her children away |
| Because they said she was not a good mother |
| They're taking her children away |
| Because of the things she did in the streets |
| In the alleys and bars no she couldn't be beat |
| That miserable rotten slut couldn't turn anyone away |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D |
| G | D | G | D | |
| Ai | x | Gv | ii D Ds4 D |
| G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D | G | D |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D |
| G | D | G | D | |
| Ai | x | Gv | ii D Ds4 D |
| G D G D G D G D G D G D ad infinitum while kids scream |
| then suddenly, in ringing acoustic guitar |
| Av Giii D A |
| (Chorus) |
| Aix Gvii D Ds4 D9 D G D G D G D A D |
| ^^^^^^^^^^ quickly |