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The Winner

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CThe hulk of a man with a beer in is hand
GLooked like a drunk old fool
And I knew if I hit him right
Why I could Cknock him off-a that stool
But ever'body they said Watch out,
Hey, that's FTiger Man McCool
He's had a Gwhole lot of fights
And he's always come out a Cwinner
GYea!, he's a Cwinner.
CBut I'd had myself about five too many
GAnd I walked up tall and proud
I faced his back and I faced the fact
That he had nCever stooped or bowed
I said, Tiger Man, you're a pussycat
And a hFush fell on the crowd
I said let's Gyou and me go outside and see
Who's a wCinner.
CWell, he gripped the bar with one big hairy hand
GAnd he braced against the wall
He slowly looked up from his beer
My GCod, that man was tall
He said boy, I see you're a scrapper
So just before you fFall
I'm gonna Gtell you just a little
'Bout what it means to be a Cwinner.
CHe said Now you see these bright white smiling teeth
GYou know they ain't my own
Mine rolled away like chiclets
Down the Cstreet in San Antone
But I left that person, cursin'
Nursin' seven broken bonFes
And he, uh, only broke, uh, Gthree of mine
That makes me the Cwinner.
CHe said Now behind this grin, I got steel pins
GThat holds my jaw in place
A trophy of my most successful
MotCorcycle race
And each morning when I wake and touch
This sFcar across my face
It reGminds me of all I got
by being a Cwinner.
CNow this broken back was a dying act
GOf a handsome Harry Clay
That sticky Cincinnati night
I stCole his wife away
But that woman she gets uglier
And she gets mFeaner every day
But I Ggot her, boy
that's what makes me a wCinner
Change to ...D  
DHe said You gotta speak loud when you challenge me son
'Cause it's Ahard for me to hear
With this twisted neck and these migrane pains
And this Dbig old cauliflower ear
And if it wasn't for this glass eye of mine
Why, I'd Gshed a happy tear
To Athink of all you're gonna get
By being a Dwinner.
DI got ar-th-rit-ic elbows, son
I got diAslocated knees
From pickin' fights with thunderstorms
And cDhargin' into trees
And my nose's been broke so often
I might Glose it if I sneeze
And sAon, you say you
still wanna be a Dwinner.
DNow you remind me a lot of my younger days
With your knAuckles a-clenchin' white
But boy, I'm gonna sit right here
And sDip this beer all night
And if there's somethin' that you gotta gain or prove
by wGinnin' some silly fight
Well, AOK, I quit, I lose
You're the wDinner.
DOh, I stumbled from that barroom
Not so Atall and not so proud
And behind me I still hear
the hoDots and laughter of the crowd
But my eyes still see and my nose still works
And my Gteeth are still in my mouth
And you Aknow, I guess that
Makes me the Dwinner.

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The Winner

by Bobby Bare

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

The hulk of a man with a beer in is hand

Looked like a drunk old fool

And I knew if I hit him right

Why I could knock him off-a that stool

But ever'body they said Watch out,

Hey, that's Tiger Man McCool

He's had a whole lot of fights

And he's always come out a winner

G C

Yea!, he's a winner.

But I'd had myself about five too many

And I walked up tall and proud

I faced his back and I faced the fact

That he had never stooped or bowed

I said, Tiger Man, you're a pussycat

And a hush fell on the crowd

I said let's you and me go outside and see

Who's a winner.

Well, he gripped the bar with one big hairy hand

And he braced against the wall

He slowly looked up from his beer

My God, that man was tall

He said boy, I see you're a scrapper

So just before you fall

I'm gonna tell you just a little

'Bout what it means to be a winner.

He said Now you see these bright white smiling teeth

You know they ain't my own

Mine rolled away like chiclets

Down the street in San Antone

But I left that person, cursin'

Nursin' seven broken bones

And he, uh, only broke, uh, three of mine

That makes me the winner.

He said Now behind this grin, I got steel pins

That holds my jaw in place

A trophy of my most successful

Motorcycle race

And each morning when I wake and touch

This scar across my face

It reminds me of all I got

by being a winner.

Now this broken back was a dying act

Of a handsome Harry Clay

That sticky Cincinnati night

I stole his wife away

But that woman she gets uglier

And she gets meaner every day

But I got her, boy

that's what makes me a winner

Change to ...

He said You gotta speak loud when you challenge me son

'Cause it's hard for me to hear

With this twisted neck and these migrane pains

And this big old cauliflower ear

And if it wasn't for this glass eye of mine

Why, I'd shed a happy tear

To think of all you're gonna get

By being a winner.

I got ar-th-rit-ic elbows, son

I got dislocated knees

From pickin' fights with thunderstorms

And chargin' into trees

And my nose's been broke so often

I might lose it if I sneeze

And son, you say you

still wanna be a winner.

Now you remind me a lot of my younger days

With your knuckles a-clenchin' white

But boy, I'm gonna sit right here

And sip this beer all night

And if there's somethin' that you gotta gain or prove

by winnin' some silly fight

Well, OK, I quit, I lose

You're the winner.

Oh, I stumbled from that barroom

Not so tall and not so proud

And behind me I still hear

the hoots and laughter of the crowd

But my eyes still see and my nose still works

And my teeth are still in my mouth

And you know, I guess that

Makes me the winner.

About The Winner Chords by Bobby Bare

Learn how to play The Winner by Bobby Bare with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Winner chords”, “The Winner guitar chords”, or “Bobby Bare The Winner 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 The Winner chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Winner lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, F, A, D.

FAQ — The Winner by Bobby Bare

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