#--------------------------------------------------------------# ST JOHN THE GAMBLER Townes Van Zandt Copyright © 1969 Silver Dollar Music Performing rights w/ASCAP http://www.ascap.com/ace/ACE.html #-------------------------PLEASE NOTE--------------------------# #This file is an interpretation of Townes' work, and does not # #necessarily represent the actual way he recorded or performed # #the song, and is not intended to be used for any purpose other# #than for private study, scholarship, or research # #--------------------------------------------------------------# ----------------------------------------------------- Version 1 submitted by Neal ----------------------------------------------------- Am Dm Am Well she had twenty years when she turned to her mother Dm Am C Dm F Am Sayin', "Mother I know that you'll grieve, but I've given my soul to St. John The Gambler C Am Dm Am Tomorrow comes time to leave. Well the hills cannot hold back my sorrow forever Dm Am C Dm F Am Dead men lie deep 'round my door, the only salvation that's mine for the askin' Em Am So mother think on me no more." Dm Am Dm Am The winter howled high 'round the mountain's breast, and the cold of a thousand snows C Dm F Am C Am Lay heaped upon the forest sleep. She dressed in Calico. Dm Am Dm Am For a gambler likes his women fancy, fancy she would be C Dm F Am Em Am And the fires of her longing would keep 'way the cold, and her dress was a sight to see. Dm Am Dm Am But the road was long beneath her feet, she followed her frozen breath C Dm F Am C Am In search of a certain St. John The Gambler, stumbled to her death. Dm Am Dm Am And she heard his laughter right down from the mountain, danced with her mother's tears C Dm F Am Em Am To a funeral drone of Calico, 'neath a cross of twenty years. Dm F Am Em Am To a funeral drone of Calico, 'neath a cross of twenty years. ----------------------------------------------------- Version 2 submitted by Jan ----------------------------------------------------- (Am) When she (Dm)had twenty years, well, she turned to her (Am)mother, Sayin', (Dm)"Mother, I know that you'll (Am)grieve, But I've (C)given my (Dm)soul to (F)St. John The (Am)Gambler Tomorrow comes (Dm)time to (Am)leave. Well, the (Dm)hills cannot hold back my sorrow for(Am)ever, And (Dm)dead men lie deep 'round the (Am)door, Oh, the (C)only sal(Dm)vation that's (F)mine for the (Am)askin', So mother, think (Em)on me no (Am)more." And (Dm)winter howled high 'round the mountain's (Am)breast, And the (Dm)cold of a thousand (Am)snows Lay (C)heaped u(Dm)pon the (F)forest's (Am)leaf. She dressed in (Dm)cali(Am)co, For a (Dm)gambler likes his women (Am)fancy, (Dm) Fancy she would (Am)be. And the (C)fire of her (Dm)longing would (F)keep 'way the (Am)cold, And her dress was a (Em)sight to (Am)see. But the (Dm)road was long beneath her (Am)feet, She (Dm)followed her frozen (Am)breath In (C)search of a (Dm)certain St. (F)John The (Am)Gambler, Stumbling (Dm)to her (Am)death. (Dm)She heard his laughter right down from the (Am)mountains And (Dm)danced with her mother's (Am)tears To a (C)funeral (Dm)drone of (F)cali(Am)co, 'Neath a cross of (Em)twenty (Am)years, To a (C)funeral (Dm)drone of (F)cali(Am)co, 'Neath a cross of (Em)twenty (Am)years, #--------------------------------------------------------------#