Waylon Jennings - Ballad of 40 Dollars, The

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****************** THE BALLAD OF 40 DOLLARS *****************
performed by Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.


Verse 1: (Waylon) 

  D                                                                    G 
 The man that preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die
     A                                                      D 
 He laid down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes
                                                                     G
 They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
     A                                                            D  
 It took us seven hours and i guess we must have drunk a case of beer


Verse 2: (Johnny)
 
  D                                                                   G 
 I guess i ought to go and watch them put him down but i don't own a suit
  A                                                                 D
 And anyway when they start talkin' about the fire in hell i get spooked
                                                                               G
 So let's just sit here in the truck and act like we don't know him when they pass
   A                                                                D
 Anyway,when they're all through we got to go to work and mow the grass


Verse 3: (Waylon then Johnny)

  D                                                                G 
 Here they come and who's that riding in that big old shiney limousine
  A                                                                        D
 Look at all that chrome i do believe that that's the sharpest thing i've seen
                                                                     G
 That must belong to his rich uncle someone said he owned a big old farm
   A                                                                      D    
 When they get parked let's mosey down and look it over that won't do no harm


Verse 4: (Waylon then Johnny) (A tone higher)

  E                                                               A  
 That must be the widow in the car and won't you take a look at that
   B                                                               E 
 That sure is a pretty dress you know some women do look good in black
                                                                   A
 He's not even in the ground and they tell me his truck is up for sale
   B                                                                    E 
 They say she took it pretty hard but you can't tell too much behind a veil


Verse 5: (Waylon then Johnny) (A tone higher)

  E                                                       A
 Listen ain't that pretty when a bugler plays a military taps
     B                                                                    E
 I think when you were in the war they always hide and play a song like that
                                                                                A
 Well here we are and there he goes and i guess that you might call it our bad luck
    B                                                                  E   
 I hope he rests in peace but the trouble is the fellow owes us forty bucks

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