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Blue Wing

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Cmajor

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Blue Wing –Tom Russell
[Verse 1]
CHe had a Blue Wing tattooed on his shoulder.  Well it might have been a
blue bird I don't Dmknow.
But he'd get stone drunk and talk about Alaska.  SGalmon boats and forty-
five bCelow
CHe said he got that Blue Wing up in Walla Walla.  Where his cellmate there
was a little Willy DmJohn
DmWilly he was once a great blues singer.  And Wing and Willy Gwrote him up a
sCong:
[Chorus]
CHe said its dark in here…can't see the Fsky.   But I Clook at this Blue Wing
and I close Gmy eyes
Then I fly awaCy, beyond these Fwalls… Up above the Cclouds, where the rain
don’t Gfall
On a poor manAm’s dreams…  (Gyaa, On a poor Amman’s dreams,  Gyaa)
[Verse 2]
CWell they paroled Blue Wing in August, 1963
And he moved on pickin’ apples to the Dmtown of Wenatchee.
DmWinter finally caught him in a run down trailer park,
DmOn the souGth side of Seattle where the dCays grow gray and dark
And he Cdrank and he dreamt a vision of when the salmon still swam free
CAnd his father’s father’s crossed that Dmwide old Bering Sea.
DmAnd the land belonged to everyone, and there were old songs left to sing.
DmNow it’s nGarrowed down to a cheap hotel and a Ctattooed prison wing.
[Chorus]
CHe said its dark in here…can't see the Fsky.   But I Clook at this Blue Wing
and I close Gmy eyes
Then I fly awaCy, beyond these Fwalls… Up above the Cclouds, where the rain
don’t Gfall
On a poor manAm’s dreams…  (Gyaa, On a poor Amman’s dreams,  Gyaa)
[Verse 3]
CWell he drank his way to L.A. and that’s where he died.  But no one knew his Christian name
And there was Dmno one there to cry.  But I dreamt there was a service.
A Dmpreacher and an old pine box.
And hGalfway through the sermon you know Blue CWing began to talk
[Chorus]
CHe said its dark in here…can't see the Fsky.   But I Clook at this Blue Wing
and I close Gmy eyes
Then I fly awaCy, beyond these Fwalls… Up above the Cclouds, where the rain
don’t Gfall
On a poor manAm’s dreams…  (Gyaa, On a poor Amman’s dreams,  Gyaa)

All chords in this song (5)

Open

X32O1O

Major chord - Happy, bright sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

C major

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Blue Wing

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Blue Wing

by Tom Russell Band

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Blue Wing –Tom Russell

[Verse 1]

He had a Blue Wing tattooed on his shoulder. Well it might have been a

blue bird I don't know.

But he'd get stone drunk and talk about Alaska. Salmon boats and forty-

five below

He said he got that Blue Wing up in Walla Walla. Where his cellmate there

was a little Willy John

Dm G

Willy he was once a great blues singer. And Wing and Willy wrote him up a

song:

[Chorus]

C F C

He said its dark in here…can't see the sky. But I look at this Blue Wing

and I close my eyes

C F C

Then I fly away, beyond these walls… Up above the clouds, where the rain

don’t fall

Am G Am G

On a poor man’s dreams… (yaa, On a poor man’s dreams, yaa)

[Verse 2]

Well they paroled Blue Wing in August, 1963

And he moved on pickin’ apples to the town of Wenatchee.

Winter finally caught him in a run down trailer park,

Dm G C

On the south side of Seattle where the days grow gray and dark

And he drank and he dreamt a vision of when the salmon still swam free

C Dm

And his father’s father’s crossed that wide old Bering Sea.

And the land belonged to everyone, and there were old songs left to sing.

Dm G C

Now it’s narrowed down to a cheap hotel and a tattooed prison wing.

[Chorus]

C F C

He said its dark in here…can't see the sky. But I look at this Blue Wing

and I close my eyes

C F C

Then I fly away, beyond these walls… Up above the clouds, where the rain

don’t fall

Am G Am G

On a poor man’s dreams… (yaa, On a poor man’s dreams, yaa)

[Verse 3]

Well he drank his way to L.A. and that’s where he died. But no one knew his Christian name

And there was no one there to cry. But I dreamt there was a service.

A preacher and an old pine box.

G C

And halfway through the sermon you know Blue Wing began to talk

[Chorus]

C F C

He said its dark in here…can't see the sky. But I look at this Blue Wing

and I close my eyes

C F C

Then I fly away, beyond these walls… Up above the clouds, where the rain

don’t fall

Am G Am G

On a poor man’s dreams… (yaa, On a poor man’s dreams, yaa)

About Blue Wing Chords by Tom Russell Band

Learn how to play Blue Wing by Tom Russell Band with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Blue Wing chords”, “Blue Wing guitar chords”, or “Tom Russell Band Blue Wing chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Blue Wing chords and for experienced players who want accurate Blue Wing lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Dm, G, F, Am, A.

FAQ — Blue Wing by Tom Russell Band

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What key is "Blue Wing" in?

The chords for "Blue Wing" show the original chord names (including C, Dm, G, F, Am, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.