Ballad Of The Crimson Kings chords by Ray Wylie Hubbard

Tuning: Standard tuning

Difficulty: intermediate

The Ballad Of The Crimson Kings
Ray Wylie Hubbard

Capo - 3rd fret
Intro: Am   G (repeat as desired)  with picked bass line
                  Am              G
Well, I'm in this band called the Crimson Kings
   G                            Am
We come from Carolina and Tennessee
            Am         G
We make our stand with bronze-wound strings
G                                 Am
  Old dread-naughts and drop-down D's

              Am               G
Our roots run deep... True and tough
       G                               Am
As the tree of life's inlaid on a mandolin
         Am                   G
We don't flinch, and we don't bluff
    G                                     Am
Our heart's been blessed...  by a hickory wind

Chorus:
Em                     Am
There are some who can rise above blind faith
Em                           Am
  Others are that just can't pray
Em                   Dm                       F
Then there are those condemned by the gods to write
         G                        Am
How they sparkle and [they] fade away

       Am                    G
Now we run with the reckless kind
    G                                       Am
But have not turned our backs on the sacred choir
          Am                     G
See, each life down here is intertwined
G                                        Am
  We come together 'cause the wheel's on fire

                Am                  G
Now, some don't know - and they are blessed
   G                                 Am
Perhaps that's what gives the sorrow wings
           Am                                 G
I might be wrong about all this but never-the-less
      G                                          Am
Sweet mother pearl, say a prayer for the Crimson Kings

Chorus (repeat 2X)