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Beside The Rio Grande

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[Intro]
Am  Em  Am  G
[Verse]
It Amhappened rather suddenly that the EmPreacher came to town
With Amstories from the testaments of Emmen of great renown
With his Ambox of patent medicines, he Emswore to cure all ills
From the Amlameness in the horses, to the children's colds and chills
And he had along his Indian wife and a country music Emband
Who Amsang of peace and brotherhood beFside the Rio AmGrandeEm  Am  G  
[Verse]
Now the AmPreacher quickly gathered sick and Empoor from miles around
Who Amcame to him for comfort and to Emhear his country sound
But the mayor Amthought he was trouble when he Emspoke against the law
And he Amsaw the growing power of the crowds that he could draw
And he worried when the Preacher bought himself a plot of Emland
To Amsettle with his family beFside the Rio AmGrandeEm  Am  G  
[Verse]
The saAmloon was pretty crowded and the Emstakes was a-running high
And the Amgirls sang sentimental songs that Emmade us cowboys cry
We beAmgan to criticise the Preacher, Emmarrying a squaw
And Amhow could he associate with cripples, drunks and whores
And in a crazy fit the Preacher scattered chips and winning Emhands
And Amcondemned it as a den of vice beFside the Rio AmGrandeEm  Am  G  
[Verse]
Now the Amboys were drunk and rowdy, and Emmostly pretty mean
And we Amdragged him to the sidewalk and we wEmhipped his shoulders clean
We Amsaid he was responsible for Embringing on the drought
That had Amburned off all the spring grass and had wiped the young herd out
The sheriff would not get involved, the law could take no Emhand
The AmPreacher had not harmed a Fsoul
[Verse]
We Ampegged him on the hillside alongside Emtwo Apache braves
Who'd been Amgiven picks and shovels and been Emmade to dig their graves
And Amwhen he asked for water, stood and Empissed around his feet
While his Amtongue swelled up and blackened in the burning desert heat
And someone said we ought to mark the Preacher with a Embrand
To sAmhow that he did not belong beFside the Rio AmGrandeEm  Am  G  
[Verse]
Then the Amsky began to darken and a breeze whipped up the Emdust
And Amsome of us were frightened, while Emothers swore and cursed
And the AmPreacher said a few words with his Emfinal dying breath
About forAmgiving us for what we had done to bring about his death
And as the night began to fall we covered him with Emsand
And Amleft his weary bones to Fbleach

All chords in this song (4)

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Beside The Rio Grande

by Strawbs

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

Am Em Am G

[Verse]

Am Em

It happened rather suddenly that the Preacher came to town

Am Em

With stories from the testaments of men of great renown

Am Em

With his box of patent medicines, he swore to cure all ills

From the lameness in the horses, to the children's colds and chills

And he had along his Indian wife and a country music band

Am F Am Em Am G

Who sang of peace and brotherhood beside the Rio Grande

[Verse]

Am Em

Now the Preacher quickly gathered sick and poor from miles around

Am Em

Who came to him for comfort and to hear his country sound

Am Em

But the mayor thought he was trouble when he spoke against the law

And he saw the growing power of the crowds that he could draw

And he worried when the Preacher bought himself a plot of land

Am F Am Em Am G

To settle with his family beside the Rio Grande

[Verse]

Am Em

The saloon was pretty crowded and the stakes was a-running high

Am Em

And the girls sang sentimental songs that made us cowboys cry

Am Em

We began to criticise the Preacher, marrying a squaw

And how could he associate with cripples, drunks and whores

And in a crazy fit the Preacher scattered chips and winning hands

Am F Am Em Am G

And condemned it as a den of vice beside the Rio Grande

[Verse]

Am Em

Now the boys were drunk and rowdy, and mostly pretty mean

Am Em

And we dragged him to the sidewalk and we whipped his shoulders clean

Am Em

We said he was responsible for bringing on the drought

That had burned off all the spring grass and had wiped the young herd out

The sheriff would not get involved, the law could take no hand

Am F

The Preacher had not harmed a soul

[Verse]

Am Em

We pegged him on the hillside alongside two Apache braves

Am Em

Who'd been given picks and shovels and been made to dig their graves

Am Em

And when he asked for water, stood and pissed around his feet

While his tongue swelled up and blackened in the burning desert heat

And someone said we ought to mark the Preacher with a brand

Am F Am Em Am G

To show that he did not belong beside the Rio Grande

[Verse]

Am Em

Then the sky began to darken and a breeze whipped up the dust

Am Em

And some of us were frightened, while others swore and cursed

Am Em

And the Preacher said a few words with his final dying breath

About forgiving us for what we had done to bring about his death

And as the night began to fall we covered him with sand

Am F

And left his weary bones to bleach

About Beside The Rio Grande Chords by Strawbs

Learn how to play Beside The Rio Grande by Strawbs with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Beside The Rio Grande chords”, “Beside The Rio Grande guitar chords”, or “Strawbs Beside The Rio Grande 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 Beside The Rio Grande chords and for experienced players who want accurate Beside The Rio Grande lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, Em, G, F.

FAQ — Beside The Rio Grande by Strawbs

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What key is "Beside The Rio Grande" in?

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