Charles Guiteau

Kelly Harrell

Traditional

Key of F · Chords: I V

Verse 6

This is the basic melody of the song that can be played all the
way through with embellishment, or as an instrumental break:

Instrumental

F C F

Verse 1

F
Come all you tender Christians
                 C
Wherever you may be

Verse 7

And likewise pay attention
                        F
To these few lines from me.

Verse 8

I was down at the depot
           C
To make my getaway

Verse 9

And Providence being against me,
                    F
It proved to be too late.

Verse 2

F
I tried to play off insane
                       C
But found it would not do;

Verse 10

The people all against me,
                     F
It proved to make no show.

Verse 11

Judge Cox he passed the sentence,
                      C
The clerk he wrote it down,

Verse 12

On the thirtieth day of June
             F
To die I was condemned.

Verse 3

F
My name is Charles Guiteau,
                   C
My name I'll never deny,

Verse 13

To leave my aged parents
                 F
To sorrow and to die.

Verse 14

But little did I think
                     C
While in my youthful bloom

Verse 15

I'd be carried to the scaffold
                 F
To meet my fatal doom.

Verse 4

F
My sister came in prison
                C
To bid her last farewell.

Verse 16

She threw her arms around me;
              F
She wept most bitterly.

Verse 17

She said, "My loving brother,
               C
Today you must die

Verse 18

For the murder of James A. Garfield
                  F
Upon the scaffold high."

Verse 5

F
And now I mount the scaffold
               C
To bid you all adieu,

Verse 19

The hangman now is waiting,
                     F
It's a quarter after two.

Verse 20

The black cap is o'er my face,
                C
No longer can I see,

Verse 21

But when I'm dead and buried,
                    F
Dear Lord, remember me.