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Red Clay Halo

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{title: Red Clay Halo}
{subtitle: Gillian Welch}
{c:Key of G}
{C:Intro}
[G] /[G]  /[G]  /[G] /  
[G] /[G]  /[G]  /[G] /  
[G]All the girls all dance with the boys from the city,
And they don't care to dance with [D]me.
Now it [G]ain't my fault that the fields are muddy,
And the red clay [D]stains my [D]feet.
And it's [G]under my nails and it's under my collar,
And it shows on my Sunday [D]clothes.
Though I [G]do my best with the soap and the water,
But the darned old [D]dirt won't [G]go.
{soc}
But [C]when I pass through the [G]pearly gate,
Will my [D]gown be gold in[G]stead?
Or just a [C]red clay robe with [G]red clay wings,
And a [D]red clay halo for my [G]head
{eoc}
{c:Preverse}
[G] /[G]  /[G]  /[G] /  
Now it's [G]mud in the spring and it's dust in the summer,
When it blows in a crimson [D]tide.
Until [G]trees and leaves and the cows are the colour,
Of the dirt on the [D]mountainGside.
{soc}
But [C]when I pass through the [G]pearly gate,
Will my [D]gown be gold in[G]stead?
Or just a [C]red clay robe with [G]red clay wings,
And a [D]red clay halo for my [G]head
{eoc}
{c:Solo}
[C] /[C]  /[G]  /[G]    /[D] /[D]  /[G]  /[G] /  
[C] /[C]  /[G]  /[G]    /[D] /[D]  /[G]  /[G] /  
Now [G]Jordan's banks they're red and muddy,
And the rolling water is [D]wide.
But I [G]got no boat, so I'll be good and muddy,
When I get to the [D]other [G]side.
{soc}
But [C]when I pass through the [G]pearly gate,
Will my [D]gown be gold in[G]stead?
Or just a [C]red clay robe with [G]red clay wings,
And a [D]red clay halo for my [G]head
{eoc}
{c:Turnaround}
{soc}
I'll take the [C]red clay robe with the [G]red clay wings,
And a [D]red clay halo for my [G]head.
{eoc}

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

"Red Clay Halo" captures a feeling of being outside the city's bright lights, observing from a distance. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who feels their simple, rural life shows on their clothes, contrasting with the city boys and girls. Yet, there's a deep contentment, even a spiritual aspiration, in embracing that identity, preferring a "red clay robe with red clay wings" to any other finery. This song, appearing on an early release for Gillian Welch, embodies the spare, often dark sound that blends Appalachian, bluegrass, and country forms for which she and David Rawlings are known. It plays like a quiet, heartfelt hymn to a life lived close to the earth.

AI-written from these sources:Gillian Welch — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Red Clay Halo

Red Clay Halo

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Red Clay Halo

by Gillian Welch

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

{title: Red Clay Halo}

{subtitle: Gillian Welch}

{c:Key of }

{:Intro}

G / G / G / G /

[] [] [] []

G / G / G / G /

[] [] [] []

[]All the girls all dance with the boys from the city,

And they don't care to dance with []me.

Now it []ain't my fault that the fields are muddy,

D D

And the red clay []stains my []feet.

And it's []under my nails and it's under my collar,

And it shows on my Sunday []clothes.

Though I []do my best with the soap and the water,

D G

But the darned old []dirt won't []go.

{soc}

C G

But []when I pass through the []pearly gate,

D G

Will my []gown be gold in[]stead?

C G

Or just a []red clay robe with []red clay wings,

D G

And a []red clay halo for my []head

{eoc}

{c:Preverse}

G / G / G / G /

[] [] [] []

Now it's []mud in the spring and it's dust in the summer,

When it blows in a crimson []tide.

Until []trees and leaves and the cows are the colour,

D G

Of the dirt on the []mountainside.

{soc}

C G

But []when I pass through the []pearly gate,

D G

Will my []gown be gold in[]stead?

C G

Or just a []red clay robe with []red clay wings,

D G

And a []red clay halo for my []head

{eoc}

{c:Solo}

C / C / G / G / D / D / G / G /

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

C / C / G / G / D / D / G / G /

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

Now []Jordan's banks they're red and muddy,

And the rolling water is []wide.

But I []got no boat, so I'll be good and muddy,

D G

When I get to the []other []side.

{soc}

C G

But []when I pass through the []pearly gate,

D G

Will my []gown be gold in[]stead?

C G

Or just a []red clay robe with []red clay wings,

D G

And a []red clay halo for my []head

{eoc}

{c:Turnaround}

{soc}

C G

I'll take the []red clay robe with the []red clay wings,

D G

And a []red clay halo for my []head.

{eoc}

About Red Clay Halo Chords by Gillian Welch

Learn how to play Red Clay Halo by Gillian Welch with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Red Clay Halo chords”, “Red Clay Halo guitar chords”, or “Gillian Welch Red Clay Halo 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 Red Clay Halo chords and for experienced players who want accurate Red Clay Halo lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D.

FAQ — Red Clay Halo by Gillian Welch

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Is "Red Clay Halo" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Red Clay Halo" in?

The chords for "Red Clay Halo" show the original chord names (including G, C, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.