These Old Bones
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These old Dbones will tell your story, these old Abones will never Dlie
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't Gsee with your Deye
These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old Abones, I toss and Droll
And it's all in where they scatter, tells you Gwhat the Afuture Dholds
Oh, she Dlived up on the mountain eleven Amiles or so from Dtown
With a one-eyed cat named Wink, a billy Ggoat and a blue tick Dhound
Her graying hair was braided and Awrapped around her Dhead
And her dress was long and faded, and her Ghome a Arusty Dshed
In a Dlittle pouch of burlap tied with a Apiece of Dtwine
There were bones all shapes and sizes, gathered Gthrough the course of Dtime
She'd throw them out before you, she Aswore that she could Dsee
The present, past and future, she could Gready your Adesti- Dny
Every- Dbody knew about her, came to Aget their fortune Dread
Concerning health and wealth and power, who to Glove and when to Dwed
Well, I just like helpin' people, I'm just Aglad that I could Dhelp
Why, I know everybody's secrets, but I Gkeep it Ato my- Dself
[Chorus]
These old Dbones will tell your story, these old Abones will never Dlie
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't Gsee with your Deye
These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old A/Ebones, I Atoss and Droll
And it's all in where they scatter, tells you Gwhat the Afuture Dholds
Some Dcalled her witchy woman, some Asaid she was in- Dsane
Some said she was a prophet, still Geverybody Dcame
Just because a body's different, well, Athat don't make 'em Dmad
Well, they've crucified a many for the Gspecial Agifts they've Dhad
I had Doften heard about her, dreamed a- About her now and Dthen
For I, too, was clairvoyant, came a- Gbout when I was Dten
I was fascinated with her, and the Athings I'd heard a- Dbout
And I knew some day I'd meet her, and one Gday Ait came a- Dbout
Well, I Dknow'd that you 'uz a'comin', I could Afeel it in my Dbones
These old bones have also told me that I Gwon't be here for Dlong
Did you know that you 'uz adopted, did you Aknow you once't was Dmine?
But the county took you from me, said GI wasn't Aright in Dmind
But I just Dknow'd I had to see you 'fore these Abones was laid to Drest
So I conjured up a message, it Gmust'a worked, I Dguess
This gift runs in the family, I Aknow you also Dknow
And I passed this gift on to you, these old Gbones, Athey're just for Dshow
[Chorus]
These old Dbones will tell your story, these old Abones will never Dlie
These old bones will tell you surely how to Glive and when you'll Ddie
These old bones I shake and rattle, these old Abones I toss and Droll
And it's all in where they scatter tells you Gwhat the Afuture Dholds
I held her Dhand while she was dyin' and Awith the funeral Dthrough
I headed on back up the mountain for GBilly, Wink and DBlue
And that little pouch of burlap with those Abones so worn and Dold
She give me somethin' special, now Gevery Atime I Dthrow
[Chorus]
These old Dbones will tell your story, these old Abones will never Dlie
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't Gsee with your Deye
These old bones I shake and rattle, these old A/Ebones I Atoss and Droll
And it's all in how they scatter, tells you Gwhat the Afuture Dholds
(Ending chorus)
These old Dbones, these old Abones, Dthese old bones, Gthese Aold Dbones
These old bones, these old Abones, Dthese old bones, Gthese old Dbones
These old Dbones, these old Abones, Dthese old bones, Gthese Aold Dbones
These old bones, these old Abones, Dthese old bones, Gthese old Dbones
These old Dbones, these old Abones, Dthese old bones, Gthese Aold Dbones ---
(Talking on the ending chorus)
Now I can't tell you what you want to hear, I just tell you what I see
It's these old bones a'talkin', blame it on them, don't pack it on me
It's just like that time that there boy died up at the sawmill
Well, I know'd who done it, but I never said
And I know'd when somebody is a-cheatin'
Or when somebody's baby was gonna be born dead
But unless somebody just plain out and asked me
Well, I just figured there ain't no point goin' around actin' like you know everything
Just 'cause you might
Ah, you know, girl, I want you to take these bones
'Cause I don't want no young'un of mine a'going around unprepared
You just remember that the magic is inside you
There ain't no crystal ball
All chords in this song (4)
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These Old Bones
by Dolly Parton
Chords in this song · guitar
D
A
G
A/E
D A D
These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie
G D
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye
A D
These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old bones, I toss and roll
G A D
And it's all in where they scatter, tells you what the future holds
D A D
Oh, she lived up on the mountain eleven miles or so from town
G D
With a one-eyed cat named Wink, a billy goat and a blue tick hound
A D
Her graying hair was braided and wrapped around her head
G A D
And her dress was long and faded, and her home a rusty shed
D A D
In a little pouch of burlap tied with a piece of twine
G D
There were bones all shapes and sizes, gathered through the course of time
A D
She'd throw them out before you, she swore that she could see
G A D
The present, past and future, she could ready your desti- ny
D A D
Every- body knew about her, came to get their fortune read
G D
Concerning health and wealth and power, who to love and when to wed
A D
Well, I just like helpin' people, I'm just glad that I could help
G A D
Why, I know everybody's secrets, but I keep it to my- self
[Chorus]
D A D
These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie
G D
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye
A/E A D
These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old bones, I toss and roll
G A D
And it's all in where they scatter, tells you what the future holds
D A D
Some called her witchy woman, some said she was in- sane
G D
Some said she was a prophet, still everybody came
A D
Just because a body's different, well, that don't make 'em mad
G A D
Well, they've crucified a many for the special gifts they've had
D A D
I had often heard about her, dreamed a- bout her now and then
G D
For I, too, was clairvoyant, came a- bout when I was ten
A D
I was fascinated with her, and the things I'd heard a- bout
G A D
And I knew some day I'd meet her, and one day it came a- bout
D A D
Well, I know'd that you 'uz a'comin', I could feel it in my bones
G D
These old bones have also told me that I won't be here for long
A D
Did you know that you 'uz adopted, did you know you once't was mine?
G A D
But the county took you from me, said I wasn't right in mind
D A D
But I just know'd I had to see you 'fore these bones was laid to rest
G D
So I conjured up a message, it must'a worked, I guess
A D
This gift runs in the family, I know you also know
G A D
And I passed this gift on to you, these old bones, they're just for show
[Chorus]
D A D
These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie
G D
These old bones will tell you surely how to live and when you'll die
A D
These old bones I shake and rattle, these old bones I toss and roll
G A D
And it's all in where they scatter tells you what the future holds
D A D
I held her hand while she was dyin' and with the funeral through
G D
I headed on back up the mountain for Billy, Wink and Blue
A D
And that little pouch of burlap with those bones so worn and old
G A D
She give me somethin' special, now every time I throw
[Chorus]
D A D
These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie
G D
These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye
A/E A D
These old bones I shake and rattle, these old bones I toss and roll
G A D
And it's all in how they scatter, tells you what the future holds
(Ending chorus)
D A D G A D
These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones
A D G D
These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones
D A D G A D
These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones
A D G D
These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones
D A D G A D
These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones ---
(Talking on the ending chorus)
Now I can't tell you what you want to hear, I just tell you what I see
It's these old bones a'talkin', blame it on them, don't pack it on me
It's just like that time that there boy died up at the sawmill
Well, I know'd who done it, but I never said
And I know'd when somebody is a-cheatin'
Or when somebody's baby was gonna be born dead
But unless somebody just plain out and asked me
Well, I just figured there ain't no point goin' around actin' like you know everything
Just 'cause you might
Ah, you know, girl, I want you to take these bones
'Cause I don't want no young'un of mine a'going around unprepared
You just remember that the magic is inside you
There ain't no crystal ball
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About These Old Bones Chords by Dolly Parton
Learn how to play These Old Bones by Dolly Parton with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “These Old Bones chords”, “These Old Bones guitar chords”, or “Dolly Parton These Old Bones 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 These Old Bones chords and for experienced players who want accurate These Old Bones lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, G, A/E.
FAQ — These Old Bones by Dolly Parton
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