Ellis Unit One chords by Steve Earle

• Capo on 4th

Song: Ellis Unit One
Artist: Steve Earle     Capo 4

Intro:
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C

Verse 1:
      C
I was fresh out of the service
       F
It was back in ‘82
  C                     G              F
I raised some Cain when I came back to town
  C
I left to be all I could be
     F
Come home without a clue
C                G             F
Married Dawn and had to settle down

Verse 2:
     C
So I hired on at the prison
        F
Guess I always knew I would
     C               G              F
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
      C
And I worked on every cell block
         F
Now, and things're goin' good
              C                 G          C
But then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One

Chorus:
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

Instrumental:
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C

Verse 3:
        C                             F
Now, my Daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
    C                G                F
And how they used to strap ‘em in the chair
    C                                     F
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ‘n all
         C                  G                 F
When the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air

Verse 4:
        C
I guess folks just got too civilized
    F
Old Sparky's gatherin' dust
       C               G               F
‘Cause no one wants to touch a smokin' gun
      C
Since they got that injection now
           F
They don't mind as much, I guess
          C               G          C
They just put ‘em down on Ellis Unit One

Chorus:
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

Instrumental:
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C

Verse 5:
           C
Well, I've seen ‘em fight like lions, boys
     F
I've seen 'em go like lambs
         C                  G                   F
And I've helped to drag ‘em when they could not stand
         C                                  F
And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam
     C                 G                C
I've seen the victim's family's holdin' hands

Verse 6:
     C                                   F
Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
    C                  G                       F
And something cold and black pumped through my lungs
     C                               F
Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best
    C                G          C
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One

Chorus:
F     G
Swing low
C     F
Swing low
              G        C
Swing low and carry me home

F     G
Swing low
C         F
Don’t let go
F              G       F       C
Swing low and carry me home