Blind Willie Mctell

BLIND WILLIE McTELL- Bob Dylan

Seen the arrow on the doorpost

Saying this land is condemned

All the way from New Orleans to Jeruselem

I travelled to East Texas

Where many martyrs fell

And I know no one can sing the blues

Like Blind Willie McTell

Well I heard that hooter singing

As they were taking down the tents

The stars above the barren trees

Were his only audience

Them charcoal gypsy maidens

Can strut their feathers well

But nobody can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning

Hear the cracking of the whips

Smell that sweet magnolia blooming

See the ghosts of slavery ships

I can hear them tribes a moaning

Hear that undertaker's bell

Nobody 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 squire

Bootleg whiskey in his hand

There's a chain gang on a highway

I can hear them rebels yell

But I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell

Well God is up in Heaven

And we are what was his

But power,greed and corruptable seed

Seem to be all that there is

I'm gazing out the window

of the St. James Hotel

And I know no one can sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell

(originally done around 1983, released as part of The Bootleg

Series, 1-3)

(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)