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The Gringos Tale

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Gmixolydian

90BPM

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[Intro]
       G         F  C     G
[Verse 1]
GBeggin' your pardon there FstranCger
You look like you're new to this Gtown
We're a long way away from the Fbeach Chere
You won't see many gringos Garound
Well I come from West FColoCrado
And I've wandered this world far and Gwide
I've lived for some years in the FshaCdows
And my eyes are unused to this Glight
If you buy me a strong drink of FwhisCkey
I will tell you the tale of my Glife
It's long and it's sad but it Ffits Cme
And it may bring a tear to your Geye
[Verse 2]
GAll the men of my family were FsoliCdiers
The hard fightin' straight talkin' Gkind
When my turn came all that Fwas Cover
But I'd already made up my Gmind
I was there when we blew though FGreCnada
And I still have to ask myself Gwhy
Then we took down that fool FNorieCga
That's where I caught the good colonel's Geye
Well he asked me if I loved my FcounCtry
And before I had time to Greply
He regaled me with tales of past FglorCies
I believed every one of his Glies
[Verse 3]
GSo I left my old life Fbehind Cme
Turned my back on my family and Gfriends
And I did everything that they Fasked Cme
And I lost some sleep now and Gagain
And I lived like a thief and FassasCsin
I smuggled their poisons someGtimes
Until I asked the wrong question in FpassCin'G  
[Verse 4]
GAnd the colonel himself dropped Fthe Cdime
So if you're ever in west GColorado
Tell the folks in Durango FgoodCbye
There's a price on my head and I can't Ggo
So I'll just wait around here 'Ftil I CdieG  

All chords in this song (3)

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The Gringos Tale

by Steve Earle

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

G F C G

[Verse 1]

G F C

Beggin' your pardon there stranger

You look like you're new to this town

F C

We're a long way away from the beach here

You won't see many gringos around

F C

Well I come from West Colorado

And I've wandered this world far and wide

F C

I've lived for some years in the shadows

And my eyes are unused to this light

F C

If you buy me a strong drink of whiskey

I will tell you the tale of my life

F C

It's long and it's sad but it fits me

And it may bring a tear to your eye

[Verse 2]

G F C

All the men of my family were solidiers

The hard fightin' straight talkin' kind

F C

When my turn came all that was over

But I'd already made up my mind

F C

I was there when we blew though Grenada

And I still have to ask myself why

F C

Then we took down that fool Noriega

That's where I caught the good colonel's eye

F C

Well he asked me if I loved my country

And before I had time to reply

F C

He regaled me with tales of past glories

I believed every one of his lies

[Verse 3]

G F C

So I left my old life behind me

Turned my back on my family and friends

F C

And I did everything that they asked me

And I lost some sleep now and again

F C

And I lived like a thief and assassin

I smuggled their poisons sometimes

F C G

Until I asked the wrong question in passin'

[Verse 4]

G F C

And the colonel himself dropped the dime

So if you're ever in west Colorado

F C

Tell the folks in Durango goodbye

There's a price on my head and I can't go

F C G

So I'll just wait around here 'til I die

About The Gringos Tale Chords by Steve Earle

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

FAQ — The Gringos Tale by Steve Earle

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What key is "The Gringos Tale" in?

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