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The Gift

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Cmajor

90BPM

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[Intro]
C    F    C    F    C    G    C
[Verse 1]
CIn old St. Louis over Fin MissCouri
The MFighty MissisCsippi it roBblls and flGows
A son was bCorn to FMary CRussell
And it stFarts the Clegend every Gcowboy Cknows
[Verse 2]
CYoung kid Russell he was bForn to wCander
FEver wCestward he was boBbund to roGam
Just a kid of siCxteen in F18C80
Up in wiFld MonCtana he foGund his hoCme
[Chorus]
CGod made MonAmtana for the wCild man
For the PAmeigon and SAm7ioux and CrDmow
But He saved his greatest gift for CCharlie
Said get her all dDmown before she gCoes---Charlie
You gotta get her all dDmown cause she's bound to Cgo
[Verse 3]
CGod hung the stars over JFudith BCasin
God pFut the Cmagic in young CBbharlie's hGand
All was seCen and Fall rCemembered
Every sFhining moCuntain every lGonghorn brCand
[Verse 4]
CHe could paint the light on hoFrsehide sChining
Great pFassing heCrds of the bBbuffalGo
And a cowcamp coCld on a rFainy mCorning
And the Ftwisting wrCist of the HGoulihan thCrow
[Chorus]
CGod made MonAmtana for the wCild man
For the PAmeigon and SAm7ioux and CrDmow
But He saved his greatest gift for CCharlie
Said get her all dDmown before she gCoes---Charlie
You gotta get her all dDmown cause she's bound to Cgo
[Verse 5]
CWhen the Lord called Charlie to His hFome up yondCer
He saFid Kid CRussell I got a jBbob for yGou
You're in charge of sCunsets in oFld MonCtana
Cause FI can't pCaint them quite as goGod as yCou
AFnd when you're doCne---we'll go oGut and have a fCew
AFnd Nancy RussCell will make sGure it's just tCwo
[Chorus]
CGod made MonAmtana for the wCild man
For the PAmeigon and SAm7ioux and CrDmow
But He saved his greatest gift for CCharlie
Said get her all dDmown before she gCoes---Charlie
You gotta get her all dDmown cause she's bound to Cgo
You gotta get her all dDmown cause she's bound to Cgo
You gotta get her all dDmown cause she's bound to Cgo (Repeat and Fade)

All chords in this song (7)

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The Gift

by Ian Tyson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

[Intro]

C F C F C G C

[Verse 1]

C F C

In old St. Louis over in Missouri

F C Bb G

The Mighty Mississippi it rolls and flows

C F C

A son was born to Mary Russell

F C G C

And it starts the legend every cowboy knows

[Verse 2]

C F C

Young kid Russell he was born to wander

F C Bb G

Ever westward he was bound to roam

C F C

Just a kid of sixteen in 1880

F C G C

Up in wild Montana he found his home

[Chorus]

C Am C

God made Montana for the wild man

Am Am7 Dm

For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow

But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie

Dm C

Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie

Dm C

You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

[Verse 3]

C F C

God hung the stars over Judith Basin

F C Bb G

God put the magic in young Charlie's hand

C F C

All was seen and all remembered

F C G C

Every shining mountain every longhorn brand

[Verse 4]

C F C

He could paint the light on horsehide shining

F C Bb G

Great passing herds of the buffalo

C F C

And a cowcamp cold on a rainy morning

F C G C

And the twisting wrist of the Houlihan throw

[Chorus]

C Am C

God made Montana for the wild man

Am Am7 Dm

For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow

But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie

Dm C

Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie

Dm C

You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

[Verse 5]

C F C

When the Lord called Charlie to His home up yonder

F C Bb G

He said Kid Russell I got a job for you

C F C

You're in charge of sunsets in old Montana

F C G C

Cause I can't paint them quite as good as you

F C G C

And when you're done---we'll go out and have a few

F C G C

And Nancy Russell will make sure it's just two

[Chorus]

C Am C

God made Montana for the wild man

Am Am7 Dm

For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow

But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie

Dm C

Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie

Dm C

You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

Dm C

You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

Dm C

You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go (Repeat and Fade)

About The Gift Chords by Ian Tyson

Learn how to play The Gift by Ian Tyson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Gift chords”, “The Gift guitar chords”, or “Ian Tyson The Gift 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 The Gift chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Gift lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, Bb, A, Am.

FAQ — The Gift by Ian Tyson

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What key is "The Gift" in?

The chords for "The Gift" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, Bb, A, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.