Red Clay Halo

Gillian Welch

Key of C · Chords: I IV V

Verse 1

          C
Well, the girls all dance with the boys from the city
                                  G
But they don't care to dance with me.
         C
Well, it ain't my fault that the fields are muddy
        G                  C
And the red clay stains my feet.

Verse 2

     C
It's under my nails, and it's under my collar,
                          G
And it shows on my Sunday clothes.
         C
Though I do my best with soap and water,
     G                     C
That dammed old dirt won't go.

Chorus

    F                       C
But when I pass through the pearly gates
        G              C
Will my gown be gold instead,
          F                  C
Or just a red clay robe with red clay wings
      G                    C
And a red clay halo for my head?

Verse 4

Inst. = verse

Verse 5

     C
It's mud in the spring and it's dust in the summer
                         G      G
When it rolls in crimson tide
         C                        G
Till the trees and leaves and the cows are the color
       G                   C
Of the dirt on the mountainside.

Verse 6

Chorus

Verse 7

     C
Now, Jordan's banks are red and muddy,
                         G
And the rolling water is wide,
      C
But I got no boat, so I'll be good and muddy
       G                C
When I get to the other side.

Chorus

    F                       C
But when I pass through the pearly gates
        G              C
Will my gown be gold instead?
            F                 C
I'll take a red clay robe and red clay wings
      G                    C
And a red clay halo for my head