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Black Waters

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse]
I Dcome from the mountains, AKentucky's my Dhome
Where the Dwild deer and black bear so Alately did Droam
GBy the cool rushing waterfall the wildflowers Ddream
DAnd through every green valley, there Aruns a clear stream
Now there's Dscenes of destruction on every Ghand
And Donly black waters run Adown through my Dland
[Chorus]
GSad scenes of destruction on every Ahand
Black Dwaters, black waters, run Adown through my Dland
[Post-Chorus]
Well, the Dquail, she's a pretty bird and she Asings a sweet Dtongue
In the Droots of tall timber she Anests with her Dyoung
The the Ghillside explodes with the dynamites Droar
And the Dvoice of the small bird is Aheard there no more
And the Dmountain comes a sliding so Gawful and grand
And the Dflooding black waters rise Aover my Dland
[Chorus]
GSad scenes of destruction on every Ahand
Black Dwaters, black waters, run Adown through my Dland
[Verse]
In the Dcoming of springtime we Aplanted our Dcorn
In the Dending of springtime we Aburied our Dson
In the Gsummer come a nice man saying everything's Dfine
My Demployer just requires a Away to his mine
Then they Dtore down my mountain and Acovered my Dcorn
Now the Dgrave on the hillside's a mAile deeper dDown
And the Gman stands a talking with his hat in his Dhand
While the Dpoison black waters rise Aover my Dland
[Chorus]
GSad scenes of destruction on every Ahand
Black Dwaters, black waters, run Adown through my Dland
[Post-Chorus]
Well I Dain't got no money, not Amuch of a Dhome
I Down my own land, but my Aland's not my Down
But, if I Ghad ten million, somewheres thereDabout
Well, I'd Dbuy Perry county and Athrow them all out
And just Dsit down on the banks with my Gbait and my can
And Dwatch the clear waters run Adown through my Dland
Well, Gwouldn't that be just like the old promised Aland?
Black Dwaters, black waters no Amore in my Dland
Black Dwaters, black waters no Amore in my Dland

All chords in this song (3)

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Black Waters

by Jean Ritchie

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse]

D A D

I come from the mountains, Kentucky's my home

D A D

Where the wild deer and black bear so lately did roam

G D

By the cool rushing waterfall the wildflowers dream

D A

And through every green valley, there runs a clear stream

D G

Now there's scenes of destruction on every hand

D A D

And only black waters run down through my land

[Chorus]

G A

Sad scenes of destruction on every hand

D A D

Black waters, black waters, run down through my land

[Post-Chorus]

D A D

Well, the quail, she's a pretty bird and she sings a sweet tongue

D A D

In the roots of tall timber she nests with her young

G D

The the hillside explodes with the dynamites roar

D A

And the voice of the small bird is heard there no more

D G

And the mountain comes a sliding so awful and grand

D A D

And the flooding black waters rise over my land

[Chorus]

G A

Sad scenes of destruction on every hand

D A D

Black waters, black waters, run down through my land

[Verse]

D A D

In the coming of springtime we planted our corn

D A D

In the ending of springtime we buried our son

G D

In the summer come a nice man saying everything's fine

D A

My employer just requires a way to his mine

D A D

Then they tore down my mountain and covered my corn

D A D

Now the grave on the hillside's a mile deeper down

G D

And the man stands a talking with his hat in his hand

D A D

While the poison black waters rise over my land

[Chorus]

G A

Sad scenes of destruction on every hand

D A D

Black waters, black waters, run down through my land

[Post-Chorus]

D A D

Well I ain't got no money, not much of a home

D A D

I own my own land, but my land's not my own

G D

But, if I had ten million, somewheres thereabout

D A

Well, I'd buy Perry county and throw them all out

D G

And just sit down on the banks with my bait and my can

D A D

And watch the clear waters run down through my land

G A

Well, wouldn't that be just like the old promised land?

D A D

Black waters, black waters no more in my land

D A D

Black waters, black waters no more in my land

About Black Waters Chords by Jean Ritchie

Learn how to play Black Waters by Jean Ritchie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Black Waters chords”, “Black Waters guitar chords”, or “Jean Ritchie Black Waters 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 Black Waters chords and for experienced players who want accurate Black Waters lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, G.

FAQ — Black Waters by Jean Ritchie

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What key is "Black Waters" in?

The chords for "Black Waters" show the original chord names (including D, A, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.