#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: Trey Graves <JSG9328@ACS.TAMU.EDU>

---------------------------------

Dreadful Selfish Crime

by Robert Earl Keen
on the album Gringo Honeymoon

-------------------
| capo on 1st fret |
-------------------

>From Trey Graves ( trey@silly.tamu.edu )

G  Em
G  Em
G  Em
G  Em

G          Em       G      Em
Seems like yesterday I was here
G          Em        G            Em
Dreamin' my life away and drinkin' beer
C                                       G  Em G  Em
Staying up till dawn strummin' on guitars
C                                            G  Em G  Em
Sleepin' all day long just like the big rock stars
D               C                   G  Em G  Em  
Barely livin' on money from tip jars

I had a little place just up the block
Had me a French girlfriend I loved the way she talked
We spent our afternoons watchin' the TV
Findin' things to do that we could do for free
When we split up she said you don't do enough for me

Chorus:

C               D                 G  C  D  G
I am guilty of a dreadful selfish crime
C                  D                   G   Em  G Em
I had robbed myself of all my precious time

Had my first gig here in the neighborhood
We had a little band I thought was good
Hocked my old shotgun bought a used P.A.
We got a quart of rum drank it all that day
When the big gig come we were just to drunk to play

Chorus
Chorus

Sometimes I can't believe those days are gone
Most of my friends back then have moved along
One's in Hollywood one's a millionaire
Some are gone for good some still livin' here
Me I'm just the same lost in a crowd
Lookin' for the rain in a thunder cloud
I have moved around but it don't matter though
One thing I have found there are just two ways to go
It all comes down to livin' fast or dyin' slow

Chorus
Chorus

Seems like yesterday, just like yesterday


#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
Don't Turn out the Light
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

Intro:

D               G
Scarecrow and a yellow moon
      D                A7      D
and a roadhouse on the edge of town.
D                  G
Hear that midnight rooster crow
          D             A7
well I'll have one more before I go
    G                         D
but Honey, don't turn out the light
         A7               G             D
'cause I think I'm in the mood for love tonight


The night is cool beneath the stars
ridin' home in John's old car
got my head out in the wind
here I am drunked up again
but Honey, don't turn out the light
'cause I think I'm in the mood for love tonight


Me and John in a pickup truck
bottle of gin and a paper cup
Runnin' wild and livin' hard
I passed out in our front yard
but Honey, don't turn out the light
'cause I think I'm in the mood for love tonight


Instrumental


The moon is high, the sun is down
Honey came out in her night gown
On the porch at a quarter to three
talkin' to the deputy sherrif and me
but Honey, don't turn out the light
'cause I think I'm in the mood for love tonight

I said Honey, don't turn out the light
'cause I think i'm in the mood for love tonight
I said Honey, don't turn out the light
'cause I think i'm in the mood for love tonight









This song has a really great instrumental intro:

  D             G                 A7       D       G                 A7
E|------2---------3---3|--2---------0---0|--2-------3---3|--2---------0---0-|
B|------3---------0---0|--3---------2---2|--3-------0---0|--3---------2---2-|
G|--0-2---2^4^2-0-----0|--2---------0---0|2---2---0-----0|--2---------0---0-|
D|4-----------------0--|4---4-2-0-2-----2|------4-----0--|4---4^5^4-2-----2-|
A|---------------------|--------------0--|---------------|--------------0---|
E|---------------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|


  G
E|------3---------------2---2---2---2|------0-------3---2---2---2---2|
B|------3---------------3---3---3---3|------2-------0---3---3---3---3|
G|------0---------------2---2---2---2|------0-------0---2---2---2---2|
D|--0-0---0-2-0-4^2^0-0-----0-0-----0|--2-2-----0-0---0-------0------|
A|2-----------------------0-------0--|0-------------------0-------0--|
E|-----------------------------------|--------3----------------------|


Thomas Bacus   tbacus@Onramp.NET

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
Crazy Cowboy Dream
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

D                              G                 D
Hot coffee on the dash board a cold front on the way
D                          G        A7
Last night I was in Oregon tomorrow Santa Fe
D                               G             A7
Up for two days runnin' and I'm feelin' tired inside
D...                       G           A7    D
Down to my last dollar but tonight I'm gonna ride

Chorus:

       G              D
Silver spurs and gold tequilla
              G               D
You know they keep me hangin' on
       D...
Pretty girls in old cantinas
        G                A7
Give me shelter from the storm
    G                D
The mile that I have traveled
    G             D
the places I have seen
           D...
Just won't let me put a saddle
        G     A7     D
On this crazy cowboy dream

A gold watch in my pocket that my daddy gave to me
He spemt his lifetime working for a home and family
I call him on the phone sometimes, I see him when I can
Just long enough to check the binds and jump the fence again

CHORUS:

Bridge:
And I'll never put a saddle on this crazy...
Cowboy dream

CHORUS:

This song has a really good base line on some of the D chords.  I've indicated
them with D...  It goes like this.

  D...            G   A7  D
E|--2---2---2---2-|--3---0---2--|
B|--3---3---3---3-|--3---2---3--|
G|--2---2---2---2-|--0---0---2--|
D|0---------------|--0---2-0----|
A|----4---2---0---|----0--------|
E|----------------|3------------|


Thomas Bacus   tbacus@Onramp.NET

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
Copenhagen
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

C                                   F
Now, I went out last Sunday with my little Mary-Ann
    G                                                   C
She said please stay still Monday, and grabbed me by my can
    C                     F
She laid a big one on me, suprised me with her tounge,
    G                                                   C
But her suprise was waitin' there, between my cheek and gum.


Chorus:
C
Copenhagen, what a wad of flavor.
C                                G
Copenhagen, you can see it in my smile.
C
Copenhagen, do yourself a favor.
     C                      G            C
Chew Copenhagen, drive them pretty girls wild.

So I went to the movies with my little Peggy-Sue,
I had my dip there in my lip just like I always do.
She didn't know that I was spittin' in my Coca-Cola cup,
she took a great big swoller' and threw her popcorn up!  Oh!

Chorus:

The moral of this story is so very sad but true.
If you stay 'till breakfast friend, they'll want to marry you.
So try my little method and I promise you no doubt
Dip some Copenhagen if you want to snuff 'em out.


Thomas Bacus   tbacus@Onramp.NET

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
Corpus Christi Bay
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

Capo on 3rd fret

G                                 C  G
I worked the rigs from three 'til midnight
G                     C
On the Corpus Christi Bay
C                          G
I'd get off and drink 'til daylight
G                 D
Sleep the mornin' away
D                       C G
I had a plan to take my wages
G                         C
Leave the rigs behind for good
C                      G	      D
But that life it is contagious
D                        G
And it gets down in your blood


I lived in Corpus with my brother
We were always on the run
We were bad for one another
But we were good at having fun
We got stoned along the seawall
We got drunk and rolled a car
We knew the girls at every dancehall
Had a tab at every bar



Chorus:
G                           D   		C
If I could live my life all over
C                  G
It wouldn't matter anyway
G                         C		    D
'Cause I never could stay sober
D                     G
On the Corpus Christi Bay


My brother had a wife and family
You know he gave 'em a good home
But his wife thought we were crazy
And one day we found her gone
We threw here clothes into the car trunk
Her photographs her rosary
We went to the pier and got drunk
And threw it all into the sea

CHORUS

Now my brother lives in Houston
He married for the second time
He got a job with the union
And it's keeping him in line
He came to Corpus just this weekend
It was good to see him here
He said he finally gave up drinkin'
Then he ordered me a beer

CHORUS (TWICE)


Thomas Bacus   tbacus@Onramp.NET

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: tbacus@onramp.net

Barbeque
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

This song is played with all barred Emajor chords.  The number's indicate
the fret so 1=F, 3=G etc.

1-3
Oooh when I was a little boy
1-3
Only one or two
1-3
The first thing I did enjoy
1-3
Was a plate of Barbeque

CHORUS:
6-7
Barbeque sliced beef and bread
6-7
Ribs and sausage and a cold Big Red
1-3
Barbeque makes old ones feel young
1-3
Barbeque makes everybody someone
10
If you're feelin' puny and you don't know what to do
8                                       1-3
Treat yourself to some meat eat some barbeque

Now there was a girl I knew
She treated me so mean
I offered her my Barbeque
She licked my platter clean

CHORUS:

Don't give me no broccoli
Or any Swiss fondue
Baby if you want to rock me
Give me good ole barbeque

CHORUS:

Don't send me to heaven
It ain't where I should go
Cause the Devil's got a charcoal pit
And a good fire down below

CHORUS:
Let your feet hit the street
Find a good place to eat
Get some Barbeque
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------

Rollin' By  by Robert Earl Keen
From: Moondog 96 <skywise@io.com>

This song uses a capo on 3rd fret and all chords are written as if 3rd
fret was open.

The opening uses a variation(i.e. -- these chords, but i don't want to 
write out the tab for it) of these chords(in this order):  D  C  D  C  
 D  C  G  D

D                 C            G               D
It's a busted old town on the plains of West Texas.  

D                       C             G         D
The drugstore's closed down, and the river runs dry.

D                C            G               D
The semis roll through like stainless steel stallions

        D          C           G
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild

         D             C            G
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

(after this the song uses the same progression, even for the solos -- which
i won't transcribe here either.)

And the mission still stands at the edge of the plateau.
A stone marks the graves where the old cowboys lie.
Asleep in a time, in a town just a youngster
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

And the drive-in don't play no Friday night pictures.
No big silver screen to light up the sky.
Gone are the days of post-war-time lovers
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

And me -- I stand here at the last fillin' station
Where the wind moans a dirge to the coyote's cry.
I jump in my car; I'm back out on the highway
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

submitted by wildstar@ix.netcom.com

From: tbacus@onramp.net

Merry Christmas From the Family
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

G                 C9
Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk
G                C9
At our Christmas party
G                Em
We were drinkin' champagne punch
    C           D
And homemade eggnog
G                         C9
Little sister brought her new boyfriend
G        C9
He was a Mexican
G                      Em
We didn't know what to think of him
        C              D
'Til he sang Feliz Navidad
          G
Feliz Navidad

Brother Ken brought his kids with him
The three from his first wife Lynn
And the two identical twins
>From his second wife MaryNell
Of course he brought his new wife Kaye
Who talks all about AA
Chain smokin' while the stero plays
Noel, Noel, The first Noel

CHORUS:

D
Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
C
Mix Margaritas when the eggnog's gone
D
Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store
C
We need some ice and an extention cord
D
A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite
C
A box of tampons and some Marlboro Lights
G               Em
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
C                        D   G
Merry Christmas from the family


Fran and Rita drove from Harlingen
I can't remember how I'm kin to them
But when they tried to plug their motorhome in
They blew our christmas lights
Cousin David knew just what went wrong
So we all waited on our front lawn
He threw the breaker and the lights came on
And we sang Silent Night
Oh Silent Night

CHORUS:

Carve the turkey turn the ballgame on
Make Bloody Marys cause we all want one
Send somebody to the Stop 'n Go
We need some celery and a can of fake snow
A bag of lemons and some Dite Sprite
A box of tampons and some Salem Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family

Feliz Navidad.



Here's how he plays the song on the album..

  G         C9         G         C9
E|--3-----3---3-----3-|--3-----3---3-----3-
B|--3-----3---3-----3-|--3-----3---3-----3-
G|--0-----0---0-----0-|--0-----0---0-----0-
D|--0-----0---0-0^2---|--0-----0---0-0^2---
A|--2-0^2---3---------|--2-0^2---3---------
E|3-------------------|3-------------------

  G       Em       C       D
E|--3---3---0-0-0-|--0-0-0---2-2-2-
B|--3---3---0-0-0-|--1-1-1---3-3-3-
G|--0---0---0-0-0-|--0-0-0---2-2-2-
D|--0---0---2-2-2-|--2-2-2-0-------
A|--2---2---2-2-2-|3---------------
E|3---2---0-------|----------------



Last time I saw him live he was finger picking the song.  E-mail me if you
want info on this.

From: davidb@efficient.com (David Byboth)
Subject: robert_earl_keen, Mariano for Song Archive...

                         Mariano

                 By Robert Earl Keen Jr.

                From the West Textures CD.

      Submitted by David Byboth (davidb@efficient.com)
      

Capo up 2 frets to play with record
 
    Am                               F
The man outside he works for me, his name is Mariano
    Am                               F                  G
He cuts and trims the grass for me he makes the flowers bloom
    Am                                 F         
He says that he comes from a place not far from Guanajuato
      Am                             G                  Am
Thats two days on a bus from here, a lifetime from this room.


I fix his meals and talk to him in my old broken spanish
He points at things and tells me names of things I can't recall
Sometimes I just can't but help but wonder who this man is
And if when he is gone will he'll remember me at all

I watch him close he works just like a piston in an engine
He only stops to take a drink and smoke a cigarette
When the day is ended, I look outside my window
There on the horizon, Mariano's silhouette

He sits upon a stone in a south-easterly direction
I know my charts I know that he is thinking of his home
I've never been the sort to say I'm in to intuition
But I swear I see the faces of the ones he calls his own

Their skin is brown as potters clay, their eyes void of expression
Their hair is black as widow's dreams, their dreams are all but gone
They're ancient as a vision of a sacrificial virgin
Innocent as crying from a baby being born

They hover around a dying flame and pray for his protection
Their prayers are all but answered by his letters in the mail
He sends them colored figures that he cuts from strips of paper
And all his weekly wages, saving nothing for himself

It's been a while since I have seen the face of Mariano
The border guards they came one day and took him far away
I hope that he is safe down there at home in Guanajuato
I worry though I read there's revolution every day...


Guitar: (Steady Travis Pick)

hhhh: Sucessive hammer

 Am  F   G
---|-1-|-3-|
-1-|-1-|---|
-2-|-2-|---|
-2-|-3-|---|
---|-1-|-2-|
---|-1-|-3-|

Intro tab....My first shot at tabbing so I apologize if it's all
wrong.









   Am               F                Am               G       Am
--|----------------|----------------|----------------|----3-----------|
--|------0-1hhhhh--|-----1----------|-----0-1hhhh----|0----0-------0-1|
--|---2------------|---2--2---------|---2------------|---0--0----2----|
--|--2-------------|--3----3--------|--2-------------|--0-------2-----|
--|0-------0-------|----------------|0---------------|--------0------1|
--|----------------|1-------1-------|----------------|3---------------|
   1   2   3   4 

   Am      F        F     Am         Am               G       Am
--|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
--|-----1--1---1---|1---1-------01h-|----------------|----------------|
--|---2------2---2-|--2--2----2-----|----------------|----------------|
--|--2------3------|-3-------2------|----------------|----------------|
--|0-------3-------|3------0--------|----------------|----------------|
--|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
 

--PART-BOUNDARY=.19505161513.ZM10348.efficient2--


Jesse with the Long Hair...
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

Capo at 2nd fret

Intro:
C	Am	C	Am

C			       Am
Jesse took a powder, slicked his long hair back
F		       C            	  C            		      G
put a cartridge in his gun and stepped outside his shack,
Am         	     F			       Em        	 F
saddled up his buckskin mare and rode off into town.
C		      G			      C
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Luann fixed her makeup, straightened out her dress,
picked up a photograph and held it to her breast.
How could she ever love him? He never was around.
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Chorus:
F			  C
Flesh and blood it turns to dust
F		       C
Scatters in the wind
Em		       F                     C
Love is all that matters in the end


Sheriff Paul was sleppin', his hat off in his lap
When he got a package that woke him from his nap.
He unrolled a poster, couldn't help but frown
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

They had been compadres many years before.
Jesse saved his life one time back before the war.
Now he was the king of thieves, he wore it like a crown.
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

CHORUS

Mr. Brown the banker hid the money in his case.
It was time for him to leave this god forsaken place.
HIs true love loved the outlaw who hated Mr. Brown
That was Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Mr. Brown had taken the land that Jesse owned.
The banker claimed that Jesse had not repaid his loan.
Truth and lies were tangled but when the truth unwound
there was Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Mr. Brown was all alone when Luann came walking in.
She pulled a pistol from her purse and pointed it at him.
When the door blew open she turned to look around
It was Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Mr. Brown grabbed Luann's gun and held it to her head.
"I'll blow her to Kingdom Come" is what the banker said.
In that fateful moment  Jesse stood his ground.
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

CHORUS

The bullet that killed Mr. Brown came through th windowpane.
It put a hole above one eye and lodged down in his brain.
He never saw a puff of smoke, no flash, no fire, no sound.
From Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Sheriff Paul was fast asleep, his hat down on his eyes,
when he got a letter and much to his suprise
a picture of the sweet Luann in her wedding gown
and Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Chorus:
Flesh and blood it turns to dust
Scatters in the wind
Love is all that matters in the end my friend


Thomas Bacus   tbacus@Onramp.NET

Date: Tue, 7 Nov 95 14:27:17 CST
From: davidb@efficient.com (David Byboth)
Subject: Jennifer Johnson & Me (Corrected with proper credit)


                     Jennifer Johnson & Me
               By F. Koller and S. Silverstein

        From The Robert Earl Keen Jr. West Textures CD
                  Submitted By David Byboth
                    davidb@efficient.com

C                         F              C
Deep in the pocket, of an old sport coat jacket
C                                 G
I chanced to discover an old memory
F                      C
Three for a quarter, a black and white portrait
C                 G           C
Taken of Jennifer Johnson and me


I'm in the corner, my shirt collar open
Like some Latin lover, on late night TV
Smiling right there with her head on my shoulder
It's Jennifer Johnson, and she's lookin' at me

It must have been summer, Ninteen Sixty Seven
The Beatles were singing "Love Is All You Need"
I held her hand as we walked through the arcade
Two young believers on a three dollar spree

CHORUS:
F                     C
Three for a quarter a black and white portrait
                                       G
Jen, close the curtain so no one can see
F                             C
Hey kiss me quick, 'cause the red light is flashing
     C                    G
It's flashing on Jennifer Johnson and Me

Waiting on that late night train back to home
I felt her warm, in the cool evening breeze
Told her I'd probably love her forever
Forever for Jennifer Johnson and Me

CHORUS:
Three for a quarter a black and white portrait
Jen, close the curtain so no one can see
Hey kiss me quick, 'cause the red light is flashing
It's flashing on Jennifer Johnson and Me

Three for a quarter a black and white portrait
Two young believers on a three dollar spree
F                      C
I saved you picture in my sport coat pocket
                          G           C
Jennifer Johnson, did you save one of me.
C                         G           F              C
Jennifer Johnson, did you save one of me-------------e


-- 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
David Byboth - Test Guy                              Efficient Networks, Inc.
email: davidb@efficient.com                          (214) 991-3884 x 351

From: tbacus@onramp.net

I'm Comin' Home
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

G                        D
Packed my suitcase and I racked my brain
Em                   C
Bought a ticket on a late night train
G                       D
Took a taxi through the pourin' rain
C          D       G
I'm comin' home to you


Flew from Boston out to San Jose
Sae our old friends in Monterey Bay
When they asked me if I'd like to stay
I said I'm comin' home to you

Chorus:

G D
I'm comin' home
G                             C
Made up my mind that's what I'm gonna do
G                        D
Can't love nobody on the telephone
C          D       G
I'm comin' home to you

They threw a party there from dusk 'till dawn
Seems like everybody knows old sleepy John
He said next time I better bring you along
I'm comin' home to you

They had fresh caught salmon on the bareques
There were people jammin' all night to the blues
Life is good out in Santa Cruz but
I'm comin' home to you

CHORUS

I drove forever out to God knows where
Come ten-thirty there was no one there
They couldn't pay me but I didn't care
I'm comin' home to you

I'm feelin' better since I got your card
I read it over and over when the road gets hard
Ain't nothin' better than your own backyard
I'm comin' home to you

CHORUS TWICE

Packed my suitcase and I racked my brain
Bought a ticket on the late night train
Took a taxi in the pourin' rain......

From: trey@terminator.tamu.edu (John S Graves)
________________________________________________________________

Front Porch Song

by Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and Lyle Lovett

from Robert Earl Keen's album No Kinda Dancer

>From Trey Graves ( trey@terminator.tamu.edu )

G  Em  C  D

G                                        Em
This old porch is just a big ol' red and white Hereford bull
         C                        D
Standin' under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce Texas
G                                                Em
He just keeps on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
     C                                D             G
He's sweatin' and a pantin' cause his work is never done
   Em
Oh no
               C           D  
He's got them cows and that red top cane

This old porch is just a steaming greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions and  a' guacomole salad
You can get at the La Salle Hotel in old downtown
With ice tea and a waitress who will smile everytime
Yea she will
I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This old porch is a palace walk-in on the main stream Texas
It ain't ever seen or heard the day of G & R and X's
With the '62 poster that's almost faded down
And a screen with out a picture since Giant came to town
Oh no,
I love them junior mints and them red hots, too
Yes I do, oh yea, and old movie pictures

This old porch is just a weathered gray hair seventy years of Texas
He's doing all he can not to give in to the city
And he always takes the rent late so long as I run his cattle
He picks me up at dinner time I listen to him rattle
He says the Brazos still runs muddy like she's run all along
There ain't ever been no cane to grind the cotton's all but gone
And you know this Chevrolet pickup she was something back in '60
Now there ain't nobody listen to him cause they all think he's crazy
This old porch is just a long time waitin' and forgetin'
And remembering the coming back not crying 'bout the leavin'
And rememberin' and the falling down and the laughter
and the curse of luck from all of those son's of bitches
Who said we'd never get back up

This old porch is just a big ol' red and white Hereford bull
Standin' under a mesquite tree out in Agua Dulce
He just keeps on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
He's sweatin' and a pantin' cause his work is never done
Oh no
I've known a whole lot of old bulls in my life and there work is
never done


First solo, adapted for guitar (mandolin on the album)
begins at " and old movie pictures"

There's another solo I will tab if anybody's interested.

s:slide

G               Em                       C
--------------|-------------------------|-------------15-17-15-20-17-15-
--------------|-------------------12-15-|13-----15-17-------------------
--16-14-12-15-|14-12---------12-14------|-------------------------------
--------------|------14----14-----------|-------------------------------
--------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------
--------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------

*little puase, come in on down beat
        D 
*17-15-|--17-15-----------------------------------------
-------|17------17-15---14------------------------------
-------|--------------16---16-14----------------14-16---
-------|-------------------------16----14-16-17---------
-------|----------------------------17------------------
-------|------------------------------------------------

 G                                             Em
|---------------------------------------------|----------------
|-15---15-------15----------------------------|----------------
|----16---16-14---16-14---16-14-------12---12-|----------------
|-----------------------17------17-14----12---|16-14-12---14---
|---------------------------------------------|---------14-----
|---------------------------------------------|----------------

                              C
-----------------------------|----------------15-17-15-(17)s20--
-----------------------------|13---13---15s17-------------------
-----------------12---12--12-|----------------------------------
-12--12-14-12-14---14---14---|----------------------------------
---14------------------------|----------------------------------
-----------------------------|----------------------------------

     D                                                G
-17-|20----------------------------------------------|-----------
----|---17-18s19-17-15-------------------------------|-----------
----|-------------------16-14---16-14----------------|-----------
----|-------------------------16------16-14-16-14-16-|17---------
----|------------------------------------------------|-----------
----|------------------------------------------------|-----------




From: tbacus@onramp.net


The Front Porch Song
by Robert Earl Keen Jr. and Lyle Lovett


        G               Em              C               D
E|------3---3---3|------0---0---0|------0---0---0|------2---2---2---3|
B|------3---3---3|------0---0---0|------1---1---1|------3---3---3---3|
G|------0---0---0|------0---0---0|------0---0---0|------2---2---2---0|
D|------0---0---0|------2---2---2|------2---2---2|2-1-0-----0---0---0|
A|------2---2---2|--------2-----2|0-2-3-----3-3--|--------3---2---0--|
E|0-2-3---3---3--|3-2-0-------0--|--------3------|-------------------|


         G                          Em
This old porch is a big ol' red and white Herford bull
         C                        D
Standin' under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce, Texas
   G                       Em
He keeps on playin' hide and seek with that hot august sun
C                                D             G
Sweatin' and a pantin' cause his work is never done
   Em            C           D
Oh no, With those cows and a red top cane


This old porch is a steamin' greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions ans a guacamole salad
You can get them at the LaSalle Hotel in old downtown
With ice tea and a waitress who will smile every time
Oh yeah,  I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This old porch is a palace walk in on a main street in Texas
It ain't never seen or heard the days of G's and R's and X's
and that '62 poster that's almost faded down
and a screen without a picture since Giant came to town
Oh no,  I like those junior mints and the red hots too, yes I do

BREAK

This old porch is like a weathered grey haired seventy years of Texas
who's doin' all he can not to give in to the city
and he always takes my rent late so long as I run his cattle
he pickes me up at dinner time and I listen to him rattle

he says the Brazos still runs muddy like she's run all along
there's never been no cane to grind and the cotton's all but gone
you know this Chevrolet pickup truck, hell she was somethin' back in '60
but now there won't nobody listen to him 'cause they all think he's crazy

This old porch is just a long time of waiting and forgetting
remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving
and remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck
from all those son's of bitches who said we'd never get back up

This old porch is a big old red and white Herford bull
standing under a mesquite tree out in Agua Dulce
he keep's on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
he's sweating and a panting 'cause his work is never done

I've know a whole lot of bulls in my time, and there work is never done.

From: davidb@efficient.com (David Byboth)

The Five Pound Bass
By Robert Earl Keen Jr.
>From the West Textures CD

E
Up this morning

Before the sun
                           Bm
Fixed me some coffee and a honey bun
E
Jumped in my pickup
A
gave her the gas
E                Bm                 E
I'm goin' out to catch a five pound bass

Down by the lake side
Just off the ramp
All them people sleeping in their fising camp
Some out in the pup tents
Some out on the grass
They all be dreaming 'bout that five pound bass

Bridge:
A
The early birdie always gets his worm
E
Me I always get my wish
A
When you're talking 'bout that five pound bass son
E                        Bm
The early wormy gets the fish

Jumped in my john boat
I stow my gear
I fire her up and when I am in the clear
I sail across that water
As smooth as glass
Ready here I come you five pound bass


   Guitar.....


I find a perfect spot
Some old dead trees
Back in a canyon where you cain't feel no breeze
I tie my lure
I make my cast
It's breakfast time you five pound bass

That old sun is rising
That water is clear
I watch my lure as it's flying through the air
I see a ripple......
I hear a splash.....
Lord have mercy, It's a five pound bass..

Spoken:
That's a five pound bass son...
Aw it's big as a god damned baby...




--PART-BOUNDARY=.19505021353.ZM26259.efficient2--


From: Trey Graves <JSG9328@ACS.TAMU.EDU>
Swervin' in My Lane

by Robert Earl Keen, Jr.

from No Kinda Dancer

>From Trey Graves ( trey@silly.tamu.edu )

(Please let me know if you find the tab for the solo useful.
If so I will do it more often.)


G G A
G G A 

A                   D           A
Sometimes I don't know what I'm doing
A                       E                    A
'Cause sometimes all my days are filled with rain
A                                D                       
As I travel down life's higway, things ain't going my way
               A              E             A
'Cause there's always someone swervin in my lane

A                         D                              A
You keep a swervin' in my lane and it's causing' lots of danger
                    E                            A
I'm a honkin' on my horn, I'm a shooting you the finger
                         D                                       A
I keep a switchin' on my bright lights, but your just too dim to know
A                           E                                      A
When your swervin' on life's highway, your running someone off the road

The day you drove away I thought I never
Could love another. How else could I feel?
But now when you run into me, I cain't believe I could not see
Your all tanked up, but no ones at the wheel

You keep a swervin' in my lane and it's causin' lots of danger
I'm a cussin' out your name, I'm a shooting you the finger
I keep a switchin' on my bright lights, but your just too dimm to know
When your swervin' on life's highway, your running someone off the road

When and if I ever finally pass you
Oh when I do and if I'm still alive
I want never see you, cause I'm ripping out my rearview
And I'm shifting it on in to overdrive

But your still swervin' in my lane and it's causin' lots of danger
I'm a stompin' on the foot feed, I'm a shooting you the finger
I keep a switchin' on my bright lights, but your just too dimm to know
When your swervin' on life's highway, your running someone off the road

G G A

Guitar Solo:

r: release  b:bend   s:slide   h:hammer on   p:pull off

--------------------------|------------5-7-5-|7b(9)r7-5----12|-12b(14)r-
--------------------------|-----5--5s7-------|---------------|----------
-------------2---2-4-2-4- |4s-6--------------|---------------|----------
--------2-4----4----------|------------------|---------------|----------
--2s4-------------------- |------------------|---------------|----------
--------------------------|------------------|---------------|----------

-12-----10--9h10p9---------|--------------- 12-------------------
--------------------10-----|------10-12b(14)---(14)r12-10--------
-------------------------11|-9h11--------------------------------
---------------------------|-------------------------------------
---------------------------|-------------------------------------
---------------------------|-------------------------------------

|--0-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------|----
|----------------------------|---------------------------|-------------|----
|--4b(6)--r4b(6)--(6)r-2-----|---------------------------|-------------|-2--
|------------------------4-2-|4b(5)r--4b(5)r-4-2---------|--------2-4-2|----
|----------------------------|--------------------2b(3)r-|0--2s4-------|----
|----------------------------|---------------------------|-------------|----





From: tbacus@onramp.net


Sonora's Death Row
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

Capo at 3rd fret

C                   Am                         F                   C
Me and the boy's we cinched up our saddles and rode to sonora last night
C                    Am                  F                  C
Gun's hanging proud, daring out loud for any one looking to fight
F                              C                            F
G
Card cheats and rustlers would run for their holes when the boys from the
old broken O
C                         Am                     F              C
Rode up and reined on the street that they named Sonora's death row


Mescal is free at Amanda's saloon for the boy's from the old broken O
Saturday nights in the town of Sonora are the best in all Mexico
They've got guitars and trumpets and sweet senoritas who won't want to let
you go
You'd never believe such a gay happy time on the street called Sonora's
death row

Inside Amanda's we was a dancin' with all of Amanda's gals
I won some silver at seven card stud so I was out doin' my pals
But the whiskey and mescal, peso cigars drove me outside for some air
Somebody whispered "Your life or your money", I reached but my gun wasn't there

Break:

I woke up face down in Amanda's back alley aware of the fool I had been
Rushed to my pony, grabbed my Winchester and entered Amanda's again
Where I saw my partners twirling my pistols and throwing my money around
Blinded by anger, I jacked the lever and one of them fell to the ground

Amanda's got silent like night in the desert, my friends stared in pure
disbelief
Amanda was kneeling beside the dead cowboy plainly expressing her grief
And as I bowed my head a trembled shot through me my six-gun was still at
my side
I felt my pockets, there was my money, I fell to my knees and I cried

A nightmare of mescal is all that it was for no one had robbed me at all
I wish I was dreaming the sound of the gallows they're testing just outside
the wall
The mescal's still free at Amanda's saloon for the boy's from the old Broken O
I'd give a ransom to drink there today and be free of Sonora's death row
I'd give a ransom to drink there today and be free of Sonora's death row

From: tbacus@onramp.net

Sing One for Sisiter
by Robert Earl Keen Jr.

D             A7       G          A7      D
Summer Sunday evenings around the old homeplace
G               D                    A7
I would play my guitar sister'd sing along
D                    A7           G     A7      D
Sister's smile would always light up my daddy's face
G                  D               A7                    D
When they'd get to dancing, they'd dance all night 'till dawn


CHORUS:
        G            D
I would sing one for sister
G        D
Play for Papa
G            D
Moan one for Mama
        A7          D
and I'd cry one for you


Mama liked the slow one's. She'd shuffle 'cross the floor
Sister liked the fast one's Lord she could step so high
I could see my Daddy dancing "til he could dance no more
When I'd play a sad song you would start to cry

Chorus:

Break:

Now its just me and this old guitar I've no place to call my own
Mama and Papa have passed away, sister's settled down
You ran off and left me to live here all alone
Now all I play is sad old songs since your leavin' town

Chorus (X2):