Ballad Of Forty Dollars chords by Tom T. Hall

Key: D

Intro:

D



Verse 1:
D                                                                   G
The man who preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die
A7                                                         D
He laid down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes
D                                                                 G
They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
A7                                                              D
It took us seven hours and I guess we must have drunk a case of beer

Verse 2:
D                                                                   G
I guess I ought to go and watch them put him down but I don't own a suit
A7                                                                   D
And anyway when they start talking about the fire in hell well I get spooked
D                                                                         G
So I'll just sit here in my truck and act like I don't know him when they pass
A7                                                                 D
Anyway when they're all through I've got to go to work and mow the grass


Verse 3:
D                                                               G
Well here they come and who's that riding in that big old shiny limousine
A7                                                                           D
Mmm look at all that chrome I do believe that that's the sharpest thing I've seen
D                                                                    G
That must belong to his great uncle, someone said he owned a big old farm
A7                                                                      D
When they get parked I'll mosey down and look it over, that won't do no harm


Verse 4:
D                                                                   G
Well that must be the widow in the car and would you take a look at that
A7                                                              D
That sure is a pretty dress you know some women do look good in black
D                                                                      G
Well he's not even in the ground and they say that his truck is up for sale
A7                                                                       D
They say she took it pretty hard, but you can't tell too much behind the veil


Verse 5:
D                                                                 G
Well listen, ain't that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps
A7                                                                       D
I think that when you's in the war they always hide and play a song like that
D                                                                      G
Well here I am and there they go and I guess you'd just call it my bad luck
A7                                                                D
I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is the fellow owes me forty bucks


Outro:
D