To Beat the Devil Kris Kristofferson
Verse 1:(spoken)
I[G]t was winter time in Nashville,[C/G]down on music city [G]row
And i was lookin' for a place to [D]get myself out of the cold[C/G]
To warm the frozen feelin' that wa[G]s eatin' at my[Em] soul[C/G]
And keep the chilly wind off my g[D]uitar
Verse 2:(spoken)
M[G]y thirsty wanted whisky,my[C/G] hungry needed b[G]eans
But it'd been of month of paydays since i[D]'ve heard that eagle scream
So [C/G]with my stomach full of empt[G]y and my pockets full of [Em]dreams[C/G]
I left my pride and stepped inside a[D] bar
Bridge:(spoken)
[Em]Actually i guess you'd could call it a T[C/G]avern...
Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and stardust on the fl[D]oor
Friendly shadows[G]
Verse 3:(spoken)
I [G]saw that there was just one old ma[C/G]n sittin' at the[G] bar
And in the mirror i could see him checkin' m[D]e and my guitar[C/G]
He turned,and sai[G]d "Come up here boy,and [Em]show us what you are"[C/G]
I said "I'm dry"-and he brought me a[D] beer
Verse 1-bis:(spoken)
He [G]nodded at my guitar and said "[C/G]It's a tough life,ain'[G]t it"
I just looked at him,and he said "You a[D]in't makin' any money,are you?"[C/G]
I said "You've been readin' my mail[G]".He just smiled and said [Em]"Let me see your guitar"[C/G]
I[C/G]'ve got something you want to [G]hear.Then he laid it on me
Verse sang 1:
If[G] you waste your time of talkin' to the[C/G] people who don't listen
To the t[G]hings that you are sayin',who do you [D]think's gonna hear
And if [G]you should die explaining how the [C/G]things that they complain about
Are t[G]hings they could be changin' who do yo[D]u think's gonna [G]care
There were[D] other lonely singers in a w[C/G]orld turned deaf and b[G]lind
Who were crucified for what they tried to s[D]how
And their [G]voice's have been scattered by this [C/G]world and winds of [G]times
Cause the truth remains that[D] no one wants to [G]know
Verse 4:(spoken)
W[G]ell,the old man was a stranger,but i'[C/G]d heard his song be[G]fore
Back when failure had me locked out on t[D]he wrong side of the door[C/G]
When no one stood behind me but m[G]y shadow on the f[Em]loor[C/G]
And lonesome was more than a state of[D] mind
Verse 2-bis:(spoken)
You [G]see,the devil haunts a hungry ma[C/G]n,and if you don't wanna join [G]him
You got to b[D]eat him[C/G]
I ain't sayin' i beat the devi[G]l but i drank his [Em]beer for nothing[C/G]
Then i stole his [G]song
Verse sang 2:
And you [G]still can hear me singin' to the [C/G]people who don't listen
To the t[G]hings that i am sayin',prayin' [D]someones gonna hear
And i [G]guess i'll die explainig how the [C/G]things that they complain about
Are t[G]hings they could be changin',hopin' [D]someones gonna c[G]are
I was [D]born a lonely singer,and i'm [C/G]bound to die the [G]same
But i've got to feed the hunger in my [D]soul
And if i [G]never have a nickle i won't[C/G] ever die ash[G]amed
Cause i don't believe that[D] no one wants to k[G]now
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