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Cold Water

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Tom Waits - Cold Water
Mule Variations (1999)
Original in A
---
[Intro]
A A A
[Verse 1]
   Well I Awoke up this mornin' with the Acold water
   With the Ecold water, with the Acold water
   AWoke up this mornin' with the Acold water
   With the Ecold water, with the AcoldA  
[Verse 2]
   Well the Apolice at the station and they Adon't look friendly
   Well they Edon't look friendly, well they Adon't look friendly
   APolice at the station and they Adon't look friendly
   Well they Edon't look friendly, well they Adon't
[Bridge 1]
   DBlind or crippled,   Dsharp or dull
   I'm Areading the Bible by a Aforty watt bulb
   DWhat price freedom,   Ddirt is my rug
   Well I Asleep like a baby with the Esnakes and the bugs
[Verse 3]
   Well the   Astores are open, but I Aain't got no money
   Well I Eain't got no money, well I Aain't got no money
   AStores are open but I Aain't got no money
   Well I Eain't got no money, well I Aain't
[Verse 4]
   AFound an old dog, and he Aseems to like me
   ESeems to like me, well he Aseems to like me
   AFound an old dog and he Aseems to like me
   Well Eseems to like me, well he Aseems
[Bridge 2]
   DSeen them fellows with the Dcard board signs
   AScrapin' up a little money to buy a Abottle of wine
   DPregnant women and the   DVietnam vets I say
   ABeggin' on the freeway 'bout as Ehard as it gets
[Verse 5]
   Well I   Aslept in the graveyard, it was Acool and still
   ECool and still, it was Acool and still
   ASlept in the graveyard, it was Acool and still
   ECool and still and it was Acool
[Bridge 3]
   DSlept all night in the DCedar grove
   I was Aborn to ramble, Aborn to rove
   DSome men are searchin' for the   DHoly Grail
   But there Aain't nothin' sweeter than Eridin' the rails
[Instrumental]
 A    A/   E    A/   A    A/   E  A  
 A    A/   E    A/   A    A/   E  A  
[Bridge 4]
   DI look forty-seven but I'm   Dtwenty-four
   Well they Ashooed me away from here the Atime before
   DTurned their backs and they Dlocked their doors
   I'm watching ATV in the window of a Efurniture store
[Verse 6]
   And I woke Aup this mornin' with the Acold water
   With the Ecold water, with the Acold water
   I Awoke up this mornin' with the Acold water
   With the Ecold water, with the Acold
[Verse 7]
   Oh well I Awoke up this mornin' with the Acold water
   ECold water, with the Acold water
   AWoke up this mornin' with the Acold water
   ECold water, with the Acold
[Outro]
A A E A
A A E A

All chords in this song (3)

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Cold Water

by Tom Waits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Tom Waits - Cold Water

Mule Variations (1999)

Original in A

---

[Intro]

A A A

[Verse 1]

A A

Well I woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A

With the cold water, with the cold water

A A

Woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A A

With the cold water, with the cold

[Verse 2]

A A

Well the police at the station and they don't look friendly

E A

Well they don't look friendly, well they don't look friendly

A A

Police at the station and they don't look friendly

E A

Well they don't look friendly, well they don't

[Bridge 1]

D D

Blind or crippled, sharp or dull

A A

I'm reading the Bible by a forty watt bulb

D D

What price freedom, dirt is my rug

A E

Well I sleep like a baby with the snakes and the bugs

[Verse 3]

A A

Well the stores are open, but I ain't got no money

E A

Well I ain't got no money, well I ain't got no money

A A

Stores are open but I ain't got no money

E A

Well I ain't got no money, well I ain't

[Verse 4]

A A

Found an old dog, and he seems to like me

E A

Seems to like me, well he seems to like me

A A

Found an old dog and he seems to like me

E A

Well seems to like me, well he seems

[Bridge 2]

D D

Seen them fellows with the card board signs

A A

Scrapin' up a little money to buy a bottle of wine

D D

Pregnant women and the Vietnam vets I say

A E

Beggin' on the freeway 'bout as hard as it gets

[Verse 5]

A A

Well I slept in the graveyard, it was cool and still

E A

Cool and still, it was cool and still

A A

Slept in the graveyard, it was cool and still

E A

Cool and still and it was cool

[Bridge 3]

D D

Slept all night in the Cedar grove

A A

I was born to ramble, born to rove

D D

Some men are searchin' for the Holy Grail

A E

But there ain't nothin' sweeter than ridin' the rails

[Instrumental]

A A E A A A E A

/ / /

A A E A A A E A

/ / /

[Bridge 4]

D D

I look forty-seven but I'm twenty-four

A A

Well they shooed me away from here the time before

D D

Turned their backs and they locked their doors

A E

I'm watching TV in the window of a furniture store

[Verse 6]

A A

And I woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A

With the cold water, with the cold water

A A

I woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A

With the cold water, with the cold

[Verse 7]

A A

Oh well I woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A

Cold water, with the cold water

A A

Woke up this mornin' with the cold water

E A

Cold water, with the cold

[Outro]

A A E A

About Cold Water Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play Cold Water by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Cold Water chords”, “Cold Water guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits Cold Water 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 Cold Water chords and for experienced players who want accurate Cold Water lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E, D.

FAQ — Cold Water by Tom Waits

How do I play "Cold Water" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Cold Water" by Tom Waits on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Cold Water" by Tom Waits free?

Yes. The chords for "Cold Water" by Tom Waits are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Cold Water" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Cold Water" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Cold Water"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Cold Water" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Cold Water" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Cold Water" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "Cold Water" in?

The chords for "Cold Water" show the original chord names (including A, E, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.