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Rose Tattoo

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Mean Mary - Rose Tattoo
CAPO: 2nd Fret
[Intro]
F  E  Am
[Verse 1]
The sun's gonna rise and in my Fcold green eyes 
Is the E7hell that I’ve been through
AmWhat I learned tonight, is that this Fworld ain’t right 
And the E7devil’s got a rose tatAmtooF  E7  Am  F  E7  Am  
[Verse 2]
Eight-fifty-one, we arFrived at the club 
I was E7wearing my last good Amdress
My man had bet everyFthing he could get 
And I was E7trying to get us out of the Ammess
At nine o’clock I Fmade my walk 
Like a E7tigress to the Amstage
And the people would stand like I was Fworth ten grand 
And not E7singing for minimum Amwage
[Verse 3]
Ten minutes in, they were Fpassing the gin 
And the E7club became a Amroar
My man was having a ball, but Fall I recall 
Is his E7face when he looked toward the Amdoor
I was going to town when a Fhush came down
The E7dance floor became a toAmmb
A woman stepped in, she was Fsmall and slim 
But her E7presence filled the whole damn Amroom
[Verse 4]
My man went pale like a Ftorn up sail
As the E7woman walked right past Amme
Her dress was grey like a Fstormy day
And it E7flowed like a restless Amsea
I went flat on a note, I was Fwatching her throat 
She wore a E7necklace of pure Amjade
And her sleeve hung down off one Fside of her gown 
To show a E7rose down her shoulder Amblade
[Bridge]
I lost Fsight of her and the rest was a blur 
As I Amsang and paced the stage
EFleven-o'-one, I was finally done 
And I E7sprung like a cat from a cage
He was Fgone from there, so I searched everywhere 
Till I Amfound a girl I knew
She said, "He Dleft your show about an Fhour ago 
With a E7woman with a rose tatAmtoo"F  E7  Am  F  E7  Am  
[Verse 5]
I walked the street till I was Fdead on my feet
And I E7hit every joint I Amknew
I heard a man say, "I saw that Fwoman in grey 
I think her E7name is Penny LaAmRue"
Where she’s been and Fwhat’s her sin
E7No one in New Orleans Amknows
All they can tell, is she’s an Fangel from hell 
With a E7tattoo of a Amrose
[Verse 6]
I said a prayer, let Fdown my hair 
I was E7now in the bad part of Amtown
It was 3am and I Ffollowed some men 
To a E7club called the UndergroAmund
I stepped inside, I could Ffeel the vibe 
There was E7danger in the roAmom
And a whole lotta sin, Fsweat and skin 
And the E7smell of cheap perAmfume
[Verse 7]
But through the lusty display was a Fwoman in grey 
E7Smiling like she knewAm  
When she turned around, where her Fdress hung down 
Was a E7shoulder with a rose tatAmtoo
I saw the love she’d deFprived me of
He was E7standing in that restless Amthrong
When suddenly, he Fnoticed me 
But E7something just a-felt all Amwrong
[Bridge]
FI heard a shout, a knife came out
My Amman got in the way
He was Fdead as a door before he hit the floor 
While the E7band continued to play
I Ftried to scream, but like a horrible dream 
There was Amnothing I could doD  
Time died, Fa siren cried
I saw a E7flash of a rose tatAmtooF  E7  Am  F  E7  Am  
[Verse 8]
I’m on the curb with a Fcop named Herb 
TryE7ing to sort out this Ammess
It’s five-twenty-five, I feel Fbarely alive 
And I’m E7wearing my last good Amdress
The sun’s gonna rise and in my Fcold green eyes
Is the E7hell I’ve been Amthrough
What I learned tonight, is that this Fworld ain’t right 
And the E7devil’s got a rose tatFtooE7  Am  

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Rose Tattoo

by Mean Mary

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Mean Mary - Rose Tattoo

CAPO: 2nd Fret

[Intro]

F E Am

[Verse 1]

The sun's gonna rise and in my cold green eyes

Is the hell that I’ve been through

Am F

What I learned tonight, is that this world ain’t right

E7 Am F E7 Am F E7 Am

And the devil’s got a rose tattoo

[Verse 2]

Eight-fifty-one, we arrived at the club

E7 Am

I was wearing my last good dress

My man had bet everything he could get

E7 Am

And I was trying to get us out of the mess

At nine o’clock I made my walk

E7 Am

Like a tigress to the stage

And the people would stand like I was worth ten grand

E7 Am

And not singing for minimum wage

[Verse 3]

Ten minutes in, they were passing the gin

E7 Am

And the club became a roar

My man was having a ball, but all I recall

E7 Am

Is his face when he looked toward the door

I was going to town when a hush came down

E7 Am

The dance floor became a tomb

A woman stepped in, she was small and slim

E7 Am

But her presence filled the whole damn room

[Verse 4]

My man went pale like a torn up sail

E7 Am

As the woman walked right past me

Her dress was grey like a stormy day

E7 Am

And it flowed like a restless sea

I went flat on a note, I was watching her throat

E7 Am

She wore a necklace of pure jade

And her sleeve hung down off one side of her gown

E7 Am

To show a rose down her shoulder blade

[Bridge]

I lost sight of her and the rest was a blur

As I sang and paced the stage

Eleven-o'-one, I was finally done

And I sprung like a cat from a cage

He was gone from there, so I searched everywhere

Till I found a girl I knew

D F

She said, "He left your show about an hour ago

E7 Am F E7 Am F E7 Am

With a woman with a rose tattoo"

[Verse 5]

I walked the street till I was dead on my feet

E7 Am

And I hit every joint I knew

I heard a man say, "I saw that woman in grey

E7 Am

I think her name is Penny LaRue"

Where she’s been and what’s her sin

E7 Am

No one in New Orleans knows

All they can tell, is she’s an angel from hell

E7 Am

With a tattoo of a rose

[Verse 6]

I said a prayer, let down my hair

E7 Am

I was now in the bad part of town

It was 3am and I followed some men

E7 Am

To a club called the Underground

I stepped inside, I could feel the vibe

E7 Am

There was danger in the room

And a whole lotta sin, sweat and skin

E7 Am

And the smell of cheap perfume

[Verse 7]

But through the lusty display was a woman in grey

E7 Am

Smiling like she knew

When she turned around, where her dress hung down

E7 Am

Was a shoulder with a rose tattoo

I saw the love she’d deprived me of

E7 Am

He was standing in that restless throng

When suddenly, he noticed me

E7 Am

But something just a-felt all wrong

[Bridge]

I heard a shout, a knife came out

My man got in the way

He was dead as a door before he hit the floor

While the band continued to play

I tried to scream, but like a horrible dream

Am D

There was nothing I could do

Time died, a siren cried

E7 Am F E7 Am F E7 Am

I saw a flash of a rose tattoo

[Verse 8]

I’m on the curb with a cop named Herb

E7 Am

Trying to sort out this mess

It’s five-twenty-five, I feel barely alive

E7 Am

And I’m wearing my last good dress

The sun’s gonna rise and in my cold green eyes

E7 Am

Is the hell I’ve been through

What I learned tonight, is that this world ain’t right

E7 F E7 Am

And the devil’s got a rose tattoo

About Rose Tattoo Chords by Mean Mary

Learn how to play Rose Tattoo by Mean Mary with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rose Tattoo chords”, “Rose Tattoo guitar chords”, or “Mean Mary Rose Tattoo 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 Rose Tattoo chords and for experienced players who want accurate Rose Tattoo lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, E, Am, E7, A, D.

FAQ — Rose Tattoo by Mean Mary

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