Black River Killer
View chords used in this chart
CAPO 4th FRET
Am Em
It was just a little while past the sunset strip
C G D
They found the girl’s body in an open pit
Am Em
Her mouth was sewn shut, but her eyes were still wide
C G D
Gazing through the fog to the other side
Am Em
They booked me on a whim and threw me deep in jail
C G D
With no bail, sitting silent on a rusty pail
Am Em
Just gazing at the marks on the opposite wall
C G D
Remembering the music of my lover’s call
Am Em
So you make no mistake I know just what it takes
C G D
To pull a man’s soul back from heaven’s gates
Am Em
I’ve been wandering in the dark about as long as sin
C G D
But they say it’s never too late to start again
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the spirit come a calling for my soul to send?
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the keys to the kingdom be mine again?
Am Em
It was dark as the grave, it was just about three
C G D
When the warden with his key came to set me free
Am Em
They gave me five dollars and a secondhand suit
C G D
A pistol and a hat and a worn out flute
Am Em
So I took a bus down to the Rio Grande
C G D
And I shot a man down on the edge of town
Am Em
Then I stole me a horse and I rode it around
C G D
Til the sheriff pulled me in and he sat me down
Am Em
He said you make no mistake I know just what it takes
C G D
To pull a man’s soul back from heaven’s gates
Am Em
I’ve been wandering in the dark about as long as sin
C G D
But they say it’s never too late to start again
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the spirit come a calling for my soul to send?
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the keys to the kingdom be mine again?
Am Em
Well the sheriff let me go with a knife and a song
C G D
So I took the first train up to Oregon
Am Em
And I killed the first man that I came upon
Because the devil works quick, you know it don’t take long
Am Em
Then I went to the river ford to take a swim
C G D
You know that black river water is as black as sin
Am Em
And I washed myself clean as a newborn babe
C G D
And then I picked up a rock for to sharpen my blade
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the spirit come a calling for my soul to send?
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the keys to the kingdom be mine again?
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the spirit come a calling for my soul to send?
Am Em
Oh when, oh when
C G D
Will the keys to the kingdom be mine again?
How to play Black River Killer
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Am. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.