CAPO: 2nd Fret INTRO: Am F G In the valley by the river, we had a little land F It wasn't much to speak of, what we had was by our hands Am F C But the banker took it from us, at the end of two dry years E7 Am E7 Am Left nothing but the dust, watered by my mother's tears F C With all the rage that burned inside me, I rode into that town G Am And with my father's rifle, I shot that banker down F C And this isn't like the story books, there'll be no reprieve G Am When they take me out before the morning sun F C The judge was looking at me, when he brought the gavel down G F It echoed off the pillars, "By law son you are bound" Am F C Then behind those iron bars, alone to face myself E7 Am E7 Am With the building of the scaffold, outside my quiet prison cell F C I can hear the hammers pounding, I can feel my blood awaken G Am To a thousand freight trains running through my mind F C This isn't like the story books, there'll be no reprieve G Am When they take me out before the morning sun F C My father said, "Son, we'll love you 'til the end" G F My mother turned and hid her face, as the preacher man stepped in Am F C He said, "Know that god will judge you, and know that you have sinned." E7 Am E7 Am The long shadow of the gallows, spanned my prison cell E7 Am E Am Em7 It made a cross upon the preacher's back, a hardened man's farewell F C I can hear the footsteps coming now, they're right outside my door G Dm With a single church bell, ringing out of time F C This isn't like the story books, and now the hour has come G E7 Am When they take me out before the morning sun F C With my calloused hands behind me, like those fields in my memory E7 G Dm I'm staring straight, into a clear hori--zon F C This isn't like the story books, and now the moment's come and gone G Am They hang me out to face the morning sun E7 Am They hang me out before the morning sun OUTRO: G F C G E7 Am Oooooh, ooh, ooh, ooh