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Ellis Unit One

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Artist: Steve Earle     Capo 4
[Intro]
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C
[Verse 1]
I was Cfresh out of the service 
It was Fback in ‘82 
I Craised some Cain when GI came back to Ftown 
I Cleft to be all I could be 
Come Fhome without a clue 
CMarried Dawn and Ghad to settle Fdown 
[Verse 2]
So I Chired on at the prison 
Guess I Falways knew I would 
Just Clike my dad and Gboth my uncles Fdone 
And I Cworked on every cell block 
Now, and Fthings're goin' good 
But then they Ctransferred me to GEllis Unit COne
[Chorus]
FSwing Glow 
CSwing Flow 
Swing low and Gcarry me Chome 
[Instrumental]
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C
[Verse 3]
Now, my CDaddy used to talk about them Flong nights at the walls 
And Chow they used to Gstrap ‘em in the Fchair 
The Ckids down from the college and they'd Fbring their beer ‘n all 
When the Clights went out, a Gcheer rose in the Fair 
[Verse 4]
I guess Cfolks just got too civilized 
Old FSparky's gatherin' dust 
‘Cause Cno one wants to Gtouch a smokin' Fgun 
Since Cthey got that injection now
They don't Fmind as much, I guess 
They just Cput ‘em down on GEllis Unit COne 
[Chorus]
FSwing Glow 
CSwing Flow 
Swing low and Gcarry me Chome 
[Instrumental]
F  G  C  F
F  G  C  C
[Verse 5]
Well, I've Cseen ‘em fight like lions, boys 
I've Fseen 'em go like lambs 
And I've Chelped to drag ‘em Gwhen they could not Fstand 
And I've Cheard their mamas cryin' when they Fheard that big door slam 
I've Cseen the victim's Gfamily's holdin' Chands 
[Verse 6]
Last Cnight I dreamed that I woke up with Fstraps across my chest 
And Csomething cold and Gblack pumped through my Flungs 
Even CJesus couldn't save me though I Fknow he did his best 
But Che don't live on GEllis Unit COne 
[Chorus]
FSwing Glow 
CSwing Flow 
Swing low and Gcarry me Chome 
FSwing Glow 
CDon’t let Fgo
FSwing low and cGarry me Fhome C  

All chords in this song (3)

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Ellis Unit One

by Steve Earle

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Artist: Steve Earle Capo 4

[Intro]

F G C F

F G C C

[Verse 1]

I was fresh out of the service

It was back in ‘82

C G F

I raised some Cain when I came back to town

I left to be all I could be

Come home without a clue

C G F

Married Dawn and had to settle down

[Verse 2]

So I hired on at the prison

Guess I always knew I would

C G F

Just like my dad and both my uncles done

And I worked on every cell block

Now, and things're goin' good

C G C

But then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]

F G

Swing low

C F

Swing low

G C

Swing low and carry me home

[Instrumental]

F G C F

F G C C

[Verse 3]

C F

Now, my Daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls

C G F

And how they used to strap ‘em in the chair

C F

The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer ‘n all

C G F

When the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air

[Verse 4]

I guess folks just got too civilized

Old Sparky's gatherin' dust

C G F

‘Cause no one wants to touch a smokin' gun

Since they got that injection now

They don't mind as much, I guess

C G C

They just put ‘em down on Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]

F G

Swing low

C F

Swing low

G C

Swing low and carry me home

[Instrumental]

F G C F

F G C C

[Verse 5]

Well, I've seen ‘em fight like lions, boys

I've seen 'em go like lambs

C G F

And I've helped to drag ‘em when they could not stand

C F

And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam

C G C

I've seen the victim's family's holdin' hands

[Verse 6]

C F

Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest

C G F

And something cold and black pumped through my lungs

C F

Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best

C G C

But he don't live on Ellis Unit One

[Chorus]

F G

Swing low

C F

Swing low

G C

Swing low and carry me home

F G

Swing low

C F

Don’t let go

F G F C

Swing low and carry me home

About Ellis Unit One Chords by Steve Earle

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FAQ — Ellis Unit One by Steve Earle

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