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Long Chain On

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#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
EmOne night as I Amlay on my Empillow,
Ammoonlight as bright as the Emdawn,
[Em]I saw  A[Am]man come A-[Em]walking,
AmHe had a long chain Emon.
EmI heard his Amchains a-Emclanking,
AmThey made a mournful Emsound,
EmWelded aroAmund his Embody,
AmDragging along the Emground.
{C:Chorus:}
     EmHe had a long chain on,
     EmHe had a long chain on,
     EmHe had a long chain Amon.   Em  
He stood beside my window,
He looked at me and he said,
"I am so tired and hungry,
Give me a bite of your bread."
He didn't look like a robber,
He didn't look like a theif.
His voice was as soft as the moonlight,
A face full of sorrow and grief.
     {C:Chorus.}
I went into my kitchen,
fetched him a bowl full of meat,
A drink and a pan of cold biscuits,
That's what I gave him to eat.
Though he was tired and hungry,
A bright light came over his face.
He bowed his head in the moonlight,
He said a beautiful grace.
     {C:Chorus.}
I got my hammer and chisel,
Offered to set him free.
He looked at me and said softly,
"I guess we had best let it be."
When he had finished his supper,
He thanked me again and again.
Though it's been years since I've seen him,
Still hear him draggin' his chain.
     {C:Chorus.}
#

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

"Long Chain On" captures a haunting image, painting a picture of a man walking with chains dragging along the ground. It evokes a sense of burden and perhaps a journey of hardship, as if seen in a dream or a vivid memory. Jimmy Driftwood, known for his folk-style songwriting, often drew from the rich tapestry of American life and history, and this song feels like a piece of that tradition. It carries the weight of a story untold, leaving the listener to ponder the meaning of the long chain.

AI-written from these sources:Jimmy Driftwood — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

Long Chain On

Long Chain On

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Long Chain On

by Jimmy Driftwood

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##

Em Am Em

One night as I lay on my pillow,

Am Em

moonlight as bright as the dawn,

Em A Am A Em

[]I saw []man come -[]walking,

Am Em

He had a long chain on.

Em Am Em

I heard his chains a-clanking,

Am Em

They made a mournful sound,

Em Am Em

Welded around his body,

Am Em

Dragging along the ground.

{:Chorus:}

He had a long chain on,

Em Am Em

He had a long chain on.

He stood beside my window,

He looked at me and he said,

"I am so tired and hungry,

Give me a bite of your bread."

He didn't look like a robber,

He didn't look like a theif.

His voice was as soft as the moonlight,

A face full of sorrow and grief.

{:Chorus.}

I went into my kitchen,

fetched him a bowl full of meat,

A drink and a pan of cold biscuits,

That's what I gave him to eat.

Though he was tired and hungry,

A bright light came over his face.

He bowed his head in the moonlight,

He said a beautiful grace.

{:Chorus.}

I got my hammer and chisel,

Offered to set him free.

He looked at me and said softly,

"I guess we had best let it be."

When he had finished his supper,

He thanked me again and again.

Though it's been years since I've seen him,

Still hear him draggin' his chain.

{:Chorus.}

About Long Chain On Chords by Jimmy Driftwood

Learn how to play Long Chain On by Jimmy Driftwood with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Long Chain On chords”, “Long Chain On guitar chords”, or “Jimmy Driftwood Long Chain On 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 Long Chain On chords and for experienced players who want accurate Long Chain On lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, Am, A, C.

FAQ — Long Chain On by Jimmy Driftwood

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Is "Long Chain On" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Long Chain On" in?

The chords for "Long Chain On" show the original chord names (including Em, Am, A, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.