Tennessee Jed

Grateful Dead

Key of C · Chords: I IV V VII ii

Verse 1

C
Cold iron shackles, ball and chain,
F                            G       C
Listen to the whistle of the evenin' train.
C                     Dm7     C    C7
You know you bound to wind up dead,
F                         G         C
If you don't head back to Tennessee Jed.

Verse 2

Rich man step on my poor head,
When you get back you better butter my bread.
Well, do you know it's like I said,
You better head back to Tennessee Jed.

Instrumental

Bb F G C

Verse 3

F                           C              G          F
Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be,
C              G     F  C       G F       G C
Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee.

Verse 4

Drink all day and rock all night,
The law come to get you if you don't walk right
Got a letter this morning, baby all it read,
You better head back to Tennessee Jed.

Verse 5

I dropped four flights and cracked my spine,
Honey, come quick with the iodine,
Catch a few winks, baby, under the bed
Then you head back to Tennessee Jed.

Chorus

I run into Charlie Fog,
Blacked my eye and he kicked my dog,
My doggie turned to me and he said,
Let's head back to Tennessee Jed.

Verse 6

I woke up a-feelin' mean,
I went down to play the slot machine,
The wheels turned around, and the letters read,
You better head back to Tennessee Jed.