Subject
View chords used in this chart
Intro:
Bb Eb G Eb
F |------------------|------0-2---------|------------------|------0-2---------|
C |------0-2---------|----3-------3---3-|--------2---------|----3-------------|
Ab|----2-------2---2-|--2---------------|------2-----2---2-|--2---------2---2-|
Eb|--2---------------|0---------0-------|----4-------------|0---------0-------|
Bb|0---------0-------|--------------2---|--4-----------0---|--------------4---|
F |--------------2---|------------------|2---------2-------|------------------|
Repeat.
Verse 1:
Bb Eb G Eb
F |------------------|------0-2---------|------------------|------0-2---------|
C |------0-2---------|----3-------3---3-|--------2---------|----3-------------|
Ab|----2-------2---2-|--2---------------|------2-----2---2-|--2---------2---2-|
Eb|--2---------------|0---------0-------|----4-------------|0---------0-------|
Bb|0---------0-------|--------------2---|--4-----------0---|--------------4---|
F |--------------2---|------------------|2---------2-------|------------------|
Early one morning with time to kill I borrowed Jeb's and sat on the hill
rifle
Bb Eb G Eb
F |------------------|------0-2---------|------------------|------0-2---------|
C |------0-2---------|----3-------3---3-|--------2---------|----3-------------|
Ab|----2-------2---2-|--2---------------|------2-----2---2-|--2---------2---2-|
Eb|--2---------------|0---------0-------|----4-------------|0---------0-------|
Bb|0---------0-------|--------------2---|--4-----------0---|--------------4---|
F |--------------2---|------------------|2---------2-------|------------------|
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain I drew a bead on to practice my aim
him
Cm Fadd4/A Fadd4 Bb
F |------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
C |------2-3---------|------2-3---------|------2-3---------|------0-2---2---2-|
Ab|----4-------4---4-|----4-------4---4-|----4-------4---4-|----2-------------|
Eb|--4---------------|--2---------------|--2---------------|--2---------------|
Bb|2---------2---0---|------------------|------------------|0---------0---2---|
F |------------------|4---------4---2---|0---------4---0---|------------------|
My brother's rifle went off in my a shot rang out across the land
hand
Eb G Bb Eb
F |------0-2---------|------------------|------------------|------0-2---------|
C |----3-------3---3-|--------2---------|------0-2---------|----3-------3---3-|
Ab|--2---------------|------2-----2---2-|----2-------2---2-|--2---------------|
Eb|0---------0-------|----4---------0---|--2---------------|0---------0-------|
Bb|--------------2---|--4---------------|0---------0-------|--------------2---|
F |------------------|2---------2-------|--------------2---|------------------|
The horse he kept the rider was dead I hung my head I hung my head
running
That's it for the guitar. It just repeats the intro between verses, and repeats the last two
bars of the verse at the end of verses 2-4.
Verse 2.
I set off running to wake from the dream
My brother's rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked my why had I run
And then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, Ihung my head.
Verse 3.
Here in the courthouse the whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
"Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we'll ask the jury what verdict they'll find"
I said "I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead"
I hung my head, I hung my head.
Verse 4.
Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
He's come to fetch me, to see what they done
And we'll ride together til Kingdom come
I pray for God's mercy for soon I'll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head.
How to play Subject
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 Bb. 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.