Decent Man
View chords used in this chart
Intro:
D G A
D G A
[Verso 1]
D G
He was more than just a decent man, best friend I ever had
D A G A
When you're shooting at a coffee can, a thirty eight don't kick that bad
G A D
But it kicks right through my bones every second of every day
G A
Clacking by like cobblestones under broken wheels
[Verso 2]
D G
And if the truth be known, I wasn't doing that well
D G A
I wasn't paying attention, I brought it on myself
G A D
And I blamed it on the gods that seemed to smile on everybody else
G A
I got so inside out, I didn't know what was real
[Refrão]
G A Bm A G
My fields are empty now
A Bm
My ground won't take the plow
D G A Bm
It's washed down to gravel and stones
D G A D
It's only good for burying bones
Instrumental:
D G A
D G
[Verso 3]
D A G A
I took the pistol off the wall, somebody hollered, "Put it back
D G A
Sit down, dad, before you fall down, you got no earthly use for that"
G A D Bm
But I slipped out the kitchen door, saddled up the sway backed mule
G A
Cinched her tight and swung on board, rode off like a drunken fool
[Verso 4]
G A D
Rode right on off the world, just like it never mattered none
G A
There wasn't nothing but me and the hurt, and the biting cold, and the heft of that gun
G A D Bm
In the pocket of a sheepskin coat, moonlight in a madman's eye
G A
For the unfairness of it all, surely something had to die
[Refrão]
G A Bm A G
My fields are empty now
A Bm
My ground won't take the plow
D G A Bm
It's washed down to gravel and stones
D G A D
It's only good for burying bones
Instrumental:
G A D
G A Bm A
G A D Bm
G A
[Ponte]
D G
He came out in the lantern light, his face in the flash was the last I saw
D G A
Of the world when it was still right, I didn't watch it fall
G A D Bm
I knew I'd hit him good, twice in the chest without a thought
G A
Turned the mule towards the county seat, like I knew I ought
[Refrão]
G A Bm A G
My fields are empty now
A Bm
My ground won't take the plow
D G A Bm
It's washed down to gravel and stones
D G A D
It's only good for burying bones
G A Bm A G
My fields are empty now
A Bm
My ground won't take the plow
D G A Bm
It's washed down to gravel and stones
D G A D
It's only good for burying bones
Instrumental
D G A
D A G A
[Verso 5]
D A G A
Lola comes to visit, just nothing I can say
D G A
We sit here of an afternoon 'til it's time for her to go away
G A D Bm
She rides home on that same mule that brought me to this place
G A
Don't know how she even stands to look upon her daddy's face
[Verso 6]
D G
He was more than just a decent man, best friend I ever had
D A G A
When you're shooting at a coffee can, a thirty eight don't kick that bad
Outro:
G A D
How to play Decent Man
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 D. 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.