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Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, "This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem"
Well, I travel through east Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I dont know one that can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
I heard that hoo-dove singing
As they were taking down the tent
The stars above the barren trees
Was his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Seen them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghost of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moanin'
Hear the undertakers bell
And I don't know one who can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squier
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one who can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
God is in his heaven
And we are what was his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I'm gazing out the window
Of that old St. James Hotel
And I dont know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
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