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Alkali

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Cmajor

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Tom Russell - Alkali
[Intro]
C
[Verse 1]
Alkali, here's Dmmud in your eye
You've been Flost in the desert Gtwenty-five years or CmoreDm  G  
All your Cwhiskey streams and your Dmgoldfield dreams 
Well, FLady Luck won't Glet you dark her Cdoor
[Verse 2]
And they Amtell me you're a Emghost of a man
FLord, I beGlieve it's Ctrue
And they Amsay you had a Emwoman once
But she Dturned her back on Gyou
[Chorus]
You old Dmgold mining hobo
FDry-well, Gdesert rat, CAlkali
[Verse 3]
Put the Dmbacon on to fry
Well, the Fsun's coming up and the Gmule's waiting for his CgrainDm  G  
Just a Cone room shack, out by the DmSanta Fe tracks
It’s an Fold lick of earth that's Gscreaming for a drop of Crain
[Verse 4]
And there's a Amtime for work and a Emtime for play
And a Ftime for Glying Cdown
And the Amroad might lead to the Emrainbow's end
A Ddusty old desert Gtown
[Chorus]
You old Dmgold mining hobo
FDry-well, Gdesert rat, CAlkali
[Instrumental]
Dm    F  G  C  Dm G
[Verse 5]
CAlkali, there's a Dmbuzzard in the sky
And he’s a-Fcounting his chances on a-Gpicking your skinflint Cbones  Dm  G  
Ah, Craise your hand and throw a Dmcurse on the land
They're gonna Ffind you one day, Glying 'neath an unmarked Cstone
[Verse 6]
Well, the Amdesert is a Emlonely place
For a Fman to Glose his Chead
They Amtell me when you start to Emtalking to yourself
DLord, you might as well be Gdead
[Chorus]
You old Dmgold mining hobo
FDry-well, Gdesert rat, CAlkali
[Chorus]
AmAlkali, EmAlkali
You old Fgold-mining hobo
GDry-well, desert rat, CAlkali
[Chorus]
AmAlkali, EmAlkali
You old Fgold-mining hobo
GDry-well, desert rat, CAlkali

All chords in this song (7)

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Alkali

by Tom Russell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Tom Russell - Alkali

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

Alkali, here's mud in your eye

F G C Dm G

You've been lost in the desert twenty-five years or more

C Dm

All your whiskey streams and your goldfield dreams

F G C

Well, Lady Luck won't let you dark her door

[Verse 2]

Am Em

And they tell me you're a ghost of a man

F G C

Lord, I believe it's true

Am Em

And they say you had a woman once

D G

But she turned her back on you

[Chorus]

You old gold mining hobo

F G C

Dry-well, desert rat, Alkali

[Verse 3]

Put the bacon on to fry

F G C Dm G

Well, the sun's coming up and the mule's waiting for his grain

C Dm

Just a one room shack, out by the Santa Fe tracks

F G C

It’s an old lick of earth that's screaming for a drop of rain

[Verse 4]

Am Em

And there's a time for work and a time for play

F G C

And a time for lying down

Am Em

And the road might lead to the rainbow's end

D G

A dusty old desert town

[Chorus]

You old gold mining hobo

F G C

Dry-well, desert rat, Alkali

[Instrumental]

Dm F G C Dm G

[Verse 5]

C Dm

Alkali, there's a buzzard in the sky

F G C Dm G

And he’s a-counting his chances on a-picking your skinflint bones

C Dm

Ah, raise your hand and throw a curse on the land

F G C

They're gonna find you one day, lying 'neath an unmarked stone

[Verse 6]

Am Em

Well, the desert is a lonely place

F G C

For a man to lose his head

Am Em

They tell me when you start to talking to yourself

D G

Lord, you might as well be dead

[Chorus]

You old gold mining hobo

F G C

Dry-well, desert rat, Alkali

[Chorus]

Am Em

Alkali, Alkali

You old gold-mining hobo

G C

Dry-well, desert rat, Alkali

[Chorus]

Am Em

Alkali, Alkali

You old gold-mining hobo

G C

Dry-well, desert rat, Alkali

About Alkali Chords by Tom Russell

Learn how to play Alkali by Tom Russell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Alkali chords”, “Alkali guitar chords”, or “Tom Russell Alkali 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 Alkali chords and for experienced players who want accurate Alkali lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Dm, F, G, Am, Em.

FAQ — Alkali by Tom Russell

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