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Flesh and Blood (source Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson Storytellers 1995)
Chords for this song
G C A7 D7
E|--1--0--3---2----|
B|--0--1--2---1----|
G|--0--0--2---2----|
D|--0--2--2---0----|
A|--2--3--0--------|
E|--3--------------|
Picking Patterns;
Introduction pattern
E|----1---1---1-----------1-------|
B|----0---0---0-----------0-------|
G|----0---0---0-----------0-------|
D|----0---0---0---0-------0-------|
A|----2--2----2-----2-0---2-------|
E|--3-------3-----------3---------|
G Chord
E|----1---1---1----|
B|----0---0---0----|
G|----0---0---0----|
D|----0---0---0----|
A|----2--2----2----|
E|--3-------3------|
C Chord
E|---0--0----0--|
B|---1--1----1--|
G|---0--0----0--|
D|---2--2----2--|
A|--3---0--3----|
E|-----3--------|
Play A7 and D7 normally
If unsure how to play the picking pattern with the words of the song go to the video on youtube:
- Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson storytellers Flesh and Blood
to see how Cash did it
"Flesh And Blood"
Verse 1:
G C
Beside a Singin' Mountain Stream
G
Where the Willow grew
C G
Where the Silver Leaf of Maple
A7 D7
Sparkled in the Mornin' Dew
G C
I braided Twigs of Willows
G
Made a String of Buckeye Beads;
C G
But Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need
C G
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need.
Verse 2:
C
I leaned against a Bark of Birch
G
And I breathed the Honey Dew
C G
I saw a North-bound Flock of Geese
A7 D7
Against a Sky of Baby Blue
G C
Beside the Lily Pads
G
I carved a Whistle from a Reed;
C G
Mother Nature's quite a Lady
C G
But you're the one I need
C G
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need.
Verse 3:
C
A Cardinal sang just for me
G
And I thanked him for the Song
C G
Then the Sun went slowly down the West
A7 D7
And we had to move along
G C
These were some of the things
G
On which my Mind and Spirit feed;
C G
But Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need
C G
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need.
Verse 4:
SPOKEN: (Play chords single not strumming or picking pattern just play each chord once)
C
So when this Day was ended
C
I was very satisfied
C G
But I knew everything I touched
A7 D7
Would wither and would die
G C
And Love is all that will remain
G
And grow from all these Seed;
SUNG: (back to the picking pattern and how cash played it)
C G
Mother Nature's quite a Lady
C G
But you're the one I need
C G
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
C G
And you're the one I need.
Outro:
E|-1--1--1--|
B|-0--------|
G|-0--------|
D|-0--------|
A|-2--------|
Song History
Last Updated: February 8, 2026