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Blue Wing

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Dmajor

90BPM

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(as heard on the album, "KING OF CALIFORNIA" by Dave Alvin)
[Verse 1]
DHe had a blue wing tattooed on his shoulder
DWell, it might have been a bluebird, I don't Emknow
Embut he'd get stone drunk and talk about Alaska
Aand the salmon boats and 45 beloDw
Dwell he got that blue wing in jail at Walla Walla
Dand his cellmate there was Little Willie EmJohn
EmWillie, he was once a great blues singer
Aso Wing & Willie wrote 'em up a sonDg
[Chorus]
N.C.                                  D  G  
said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky
but I Dlook at this blue wing and I close my Aeyes
and I fly Daway, beyond these Gwalls
up above the Dclouds, where the rain don't Afall
on a poor man's DdreamGsA  
[Verse 2]
Dwell they paroled blue wing in August of 1963
Dand he moved north picking apples to the tEmown of Wenatchee
Emwinter finally caught him in a rundown trailer park
Aon the south side of Seattle where the Ddays grow grey and dark
Dand he drank and he dreamt a vision of when the salmon still ran free
Dand his father's fathers crossed that wEmide old Bering sea
Emand the land belonged to everyone, and there were old songs yet to sing
Anow, it's narrowed broken down to a cheap hotel and a Dtattooed prison wing
[Chorus]
N.C.                                  D  G  
said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky
but I Dlook at this blue wing and I close my Aeyes
and I fly Daway, beyond these Gwalls
up above the Dclouds, where the rain don't Afall
on a poor man's DdreamGsA  
[Verse 3]
Dwell he drank his way to LA and that's where he died
Dand no one knew his Christian name, and there was Emno one there to cry
Embut I dreamt that there was a service, a preacher and an old pine box
Aand halfway through the service, Dblue wing began to talk
[Chorus]
N.C.                                  D  G  
he said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky
but I Dlook at this blue wing and I close my Aeyes
and I fly Daway, beyond these Gwalls
up above the Dclouds, where the rain don't Afall
on a poor man's DdreamGsA  

All chords in this song (4)

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Blue Wing

by Dave Alvin

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

(as heard on the album, "KING OF CALIFORNIA" by Dave Alvin)

[Verse 1]

He had a blue wing tattooed on his shoulder

D Em

Well, it might have been a bluebird, I don't know

but he'd get stone drunk and talk about Alaska

A D

and the salmon boats and 45 below

well he got that blue wing in jail at Walla Walla

D Em

and his cellmate there was Little Willie John

Willie, he was once a great blues singer

A D

so Wing & Willie wrote 'em up a song

[Chorus]

D G

N.C.

said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky

D A

but I look at this blue wing and I close my eyes

D G

and I fly away, beyond these walls

D A

up above the clouds, where the rain don't fall

D G A

on a poor man's dreams

[Verse 2]

well they paroled blue wing in August of 1963

D Em

and he moved north picking apples to the town of Wenatchee

winter finally caught him in a rundown trailer park

A D

on the south side of Seattle where the days grow grey and dark

and he drank and he dreamt a vision of when the salmon still ran free

D Em

and his father's fathers crossed that wide old Bering sea

and the land belonged to everyone, and there were old songs yet to sing

A D

now, it's narrowed broken down to a cheap hotel and a tattooed prison wing

[Chorus]

D G

N.C.

said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky

D A

but I look at this blue wing and I close my eyes

D G

and I fly away, beyond these walls

D A

up above the clouds, where the rain don't fall

D G A

on a poor man's dreams

[Verse 3]

well he drank his way to LA and that's where he died

D Em

and no one knew his Christian name, and there was no one there to cry

but I dreamt that there was a service, a preacher and an old pine box

A D

and halfway through the service, blue wing began to talk

[Chorus]

D G

N.C.

he said, it's dark in here, can't see the sky

D A

but I look at this blue wing and I close my eyes

D G

and I fly away, beyond these walls

D A

up above the clouds, where the rain don't fall

D G A

on a poor man's dreams

About Blue Wing Chords by Dave Alvin

Learn how to play Blue Wing by Dave Alvin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Blue Wing chords”, “Blue Wing guitar chords”, or “Dave Alvin Blue Wing 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 Blue Wing chords and for experienced players who want accurate Blue Wing lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Em, A, C, G.

FAQ — Blue Wing by Dave Alvin

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