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Barbed Wire Halo

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Cminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Standard tuning
Capo on 2nd Fret
Cm9Well God bless GTexas
And DeCm9acon ShacklefGord
He read the biCm9ble seven tiGmes
And he beCm9lieved every woGrd
That ol' beCm9at up leather boGok had bCm9een through it aGll
He sat Cm9on the back pGew so he could cCm9hew him a chGaw
Singin'
"AmCm9azing GrGace
HCm9ow sweet the soGund"
Cm9That saved a wrDech like mCm9e
He carried cCm9andy for the kGids in his Cm9Sunday dress cGoat
He'd take me fCm9ishin' after chGurch
And taught me tCm9hings I needed to knGow
No, Deacon dCm9idn't have a famGily
Lord knCm9ows he wished he dGid
He told the Cm9whole congrGegation that I wDas his granGdkid
Chorus:
And today he joAmined up with JeGsus
Wearing shDiny pearl snGaps
We sang a fAmew gospel hyGmns
And then the solDdier played taDps
I bet he's waAmlkin' with PGete down the strDeet paved with goEld
                       Am            G   D(let ring out)
Showin' off his brand spanking new wings
And his barbed wire hGalo
He married sweet Emma Grace before the war was through
She held his right arm next to his anchor tatoo
He was on a ship off at sea when she died in child birth
He lost his whole world from the far side of the earth
He lost the will to love
He lost the will to live
Until he met a man who taught him to forgive
Yeah life took him to hell and back
To hell and back a time or two
But in the end he beat the devil until he was black and blue
Singin'
"I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind
But now I see"
(Chorus)
Before he Cm9went he made me proGmise him that I Cm9wouldn't cGry
And though I tCm9old him that I wouGldn't you know I coCm9uldn't help but lGie
Cause today he joAmined up with JeGsus
Wearing shDiny pearl snGaps
We sang a feAmw gospel hyGmns
And then the solDdier played tDaps
I bet he's walAmking with PeGte down the strDeet paved with goEld
As sAmure as the oGld church bell still riDngs
He always saAmid he had couGntry in his sDoul
                           Am              G   D(let ring out)
He's showing off his brand spanking new wings
And his barbed wire hGalo
Cm9Sweet chGarCm9iots coGming forth to cCm9arry me hDome
Cm9Swing lGow sCm9weet chariGots coCm9ming forth to caGrry me hoDmeCm9  

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

"Barbed Wire Halo" paints a picture of a life lived with faith and a strong sense of place, where "God bless Texas" is a heartfelt sentiment. The song speaks to a journey ending in peace, as someone joins "up with Jesus" and hears the "sweet chariots coming forth to carry me home." Aaron Watson, a Texas native whose musical roots include classic country and gospel hymns, brings a genuine spirit to this reflection on devotion and homecoming. It feels like a tender farewell, rooted in hope and spiritual comfort.

AI-written from these sources:Aaron Watson — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Barbed Wire Halo

Barbed Wire Halo

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Barbed Wire Halo

by Aaron Watson

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

Chords in this song · guitar

Cm9

Standard tuning

Capo on 2nd Fret

Cm9 G

Well God bless Texas

Cm9 G

And Deacon Shackleford

Cm9 G

He read the bible seven times

Cm9 G

And he believed every word

Cm9 G Cm9 G

That ol' beat up leather book had been through it all

Cm9 G Cm9 G

He sat on the back pew so he could chew him a chaw

Singin'

Cm9 G

"Amazing Grace

Cm9 G

How sweet the sound"

Cm9 D Cm9

That saved a wrech like me

Cm9 G Cm9 G

He carried candy for the kids in his Sunday dress coat

Cm9 G

He'd take me fishin' after church

Cm9 G

And taught me things I needed to know

Cm9 G

No, Deacon didn't have a family

Cm9 G

Lord knows he wished he did

Cm9 G D G

He told the whole congregation that I was his grandkid

Chorus:

Am G

And today he joined up with Jesus

D G

Wearing shiny pearl snaps

Am G

We sang a few gospel hymns

D D

And then the soldier played taps

Am G D E

I bet he's walkin' with Pete down the street paved with gold

Am G D

(let ring out)

Showin' off his brand spanking new wings

And his barbed wire halo

He married sweet Emma Grace before the war was through

She held his right arm next to his anchor tatoo

He was on a ship off at sea when she died in child birth

He lost his whole world from the far side of the earth

He lost the will to love

He lost the will to live

Until he met a man who taught him to forgive

Yeah life took him to hell and back

To hell and back a time or two

But in the end he beat the devil until he was black and blue

Singin'

"I once was lost

But now I'm found

Was blind

But now I see"

(Chorus)

Cm9 G Cm9 G

Before he went he made me promise him that I wouldn't cry

Cm9 G Cm9 G

And though I told him that I wouldn't you know I couldn't help but lie

Am G

Cause today he joined up with Jesus

D G

Wearing shiny pearl snaps

Am G

We sang a few gospel hymns

D D

And then the soldier played taps

Am G D E

I bet he's walking with Pete down the street paved with gold

Am G D

As sure as the old church bell still rings

Am G D

He always said he had country in his soul

Am G D

(let ring out)

He's showing off his brand spanking new wings

And his barbed wire halo

Cm9 G Cm9 G Cm9 D

Sweet chariots coming forth to carry me home

Cm9 G Cm9 G Cm9 G D Cm9

Swing low sweet chariots coming forth to carry me home

About Barbed Wire Halo Chords by Aaron Watson

Learn how to play Barbed Wire Halo by Aaron Watson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Barbed Wire Halo chords”, “Barbed Wire Halo guitar chords”, or “Aaron Watson Barbed Wire Halo 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 Barbed Wire Halo chords and for experienced players who want accurate Barbed Wire Halo lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Cm9, G, D, Am, E.

FAQ — Barbed Wire Halo by Aaron Watson

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What key is "Barbed Wire Halo" in?

The chords for "Barbed Wire Halo" show the original chord names (including Cm9, G, D, Am, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.