The Magdalene Laundries chords by Joni Mitchell

• Capo on 2nd
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Key: A

♫ 🎸 Intro:

C Em C D A7sus2


♫ 🎸 Verse 1:
G            Em
I was an unmarried girl, I'd just turned twenty-seven
G                    Em
When they sent me to the sisters for the way men looked at me
C               Em
Branded as a Jezebel I knew I was not bound for Heaven
    C           D     A7sus2
I'd be cast in shame into the Magdalene laundries

♫ 🎸 Verse 2:
G               Em
Most girls come here pregnant,some by their own fathers
G               Em
Bridget got that belly by her parish priest,
C                          Em
We're trying to get things white as snow, all of us woe-begotten daughters
    C            D     A7sus2
In the streaming stains of the Magdalene laundries


♫ 🎸 Bridge:
C             Em
Prostitutes and destitutes and temptresses like me
C              Em
Fallen women sentenced into dreamless drudgery
C                     Em
Why do they call this heartless place Our Lady of Charity?
  C
Oh, charity


♫ 🎸 Verse 3:
G                        Em
These bloodless brides of Jesus If they had just once glimpsed their groom, then they'd know
G                         Em
and they'd drop the stones concealed behind their rosaries
C                         Em
They wilt the grass they walk upon they leech the light out of a room
        C               D     A7sus2
They'd like to drive us down the drain at the Magdalene laundries


♫ 🎸 Verse 4:
G             Em
Peg O'Connell died today, she was a cheeky gir, a flirt, they just stuffed her in a hole!
G                    Em
Surely to God you'd think at least some bells should ring!
C                       Em
One day I'm going to die here too and they'll plant me in the dirt
C                   Em
Like some lame bulb hat never blooms, come any spring
    G    Em G Em C Em C
Not any spring