The Band - Blind Willie McTell: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Blind Willie McTell" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

Em            B       Em                 B               Em
Seen the arrow on the door post saying "This land is condemned"
Em       B      D       A   C    D    Em
All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem.
I traveled through East Texas where many martyrs fell
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.

Well, I heard the hoot-owl singing as they were taking down the tents
The stars above all the barren trees were his only audience.
Yeah, them charcoal gypsy maidens can strut their feathers well
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.

See them big plantations a-burning, can't you hear the cracking of the whips,
Smell that sweet magnolia blossom blooming, see the ghosts of the slavery ships.
Well, I can hear them tribes a-moanin', I can hear the undertaker's bell
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.

There's a woman she's standing by the river, she is with some fine young handsome man
See he's all dressed just like a squire, he's got bootleg whiskey in his hand.
Yeah, there's a chain-gang out on the highway and I can hear them rebels yell
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.

God, oh God is in Heaven and we all want what is His
But the power and greed, the corruptible seed seems to be all that there is.
Hey, hey, I'm a-gazing out the window of the St. James Hotel
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.
Hey, hey, I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

B

Guitar chord B

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Blind Willie McTell" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Blind Willie McTell" by The Band.

The Band Song List