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Cold Missouri Waters

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[Intro]
C Am F C G Dm Am F Dm Am F C
[Verse 1]
My Cname is Dodge, but then you Amknow that
It's Fwritten on the chart there, at the Cfoot end of the Gbed
They Cthink I'm blind, that I can't Amread it
But I've Fread it, every word and every Cword it says is Gdeath
So Amconfession. Is that the Freason that you Ccame?
Get it Amoff my chest before I Fcheck out of the Ggame
Since you Ammention it, well, there's Fthirteen things I'll Cname
DmThirteen crosses Fhigh above the Gcold Missouri waCters
[Verse 2]
August '4C9, North MonAmtana
The Fhottest day on record, the Cforest tinder Gdry
Lightning Cstrikes in the Ammountains
I was Fcrew chief at the jump base, I preCpared the boys to Gfly
Picked the Amdrop zone, C4F7 comes in Clow
Feel the Amtap upon your Fleg that tells you, "GGo"
See the Amcircle of the Ffire down beClow
DmFifteen of us Fdropped above the Gcold Missouri waCters
[Verse 3]
Gauged the Cfire, I'd seen Ambigger
So I Fordered them to side hill, we'd Cfight it from beGlow
We'd Chave our backs to the Amriver
We'd Fhave it licked by morning, even Cif we took it Gslow
But the Amfire crowned, jumped the Fvalley just aChead
There was Amno way down, headed Ffor the ridge inGstead
Too big to Amfight it, we'd have to Ffight that slope inCstead
DmFlames one step beFhind, above the Gcold Missouri waCters
[Verse 4]
CSky had turned red, smoke was Amboiling
Two Fhundred yards to safety, death was Cfifty yards beGhind
I don't Cknow why, I just Amthought it
I Fstruck a match to waist high grass, Crunning out of Gtime
Tried to Amtell them, "Step inFto this fire I've Cset."
"We can't Ammake it, this is the Fonly chance you'll Gget"
But they Amcursed me, ran for the Frocks above inCstead
I Dmlay face down and Fprayed above the Gcold Missouri waCters
[Interlude]
DmAah, Emaah, Faah, Gaah
GAah, Dmaah, Amaah, Faah
Then when I Crose like the Amphoenix
In that Fworld reduced to ashes, there were Cnone, but two surGvived
I Cstayed that night and one day Amafter
Carried Fbodies to the river, wondering Chow I stayed aGlive
Thirteen Amstations of the Fcross to mark their Cfall
I've Amhad my say, I'll conFfess to nothing Gmore
I'll Amjoin them now, those that Fleft me long beCfore
DmThirteen crosses Fhigh above the Gcold Missouri watCers
DmThirteen crosses Fhigh above the Gcold Missouri shoCre
DmOoh, Amooh, Fooh

All chords in this song (6)

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Cold Missouri Waters

by James Keelaghan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

C Am F C G Dm Am F Dm Am F C

[Verse 1]

C Am

My name is Dodge, but then you know that

F C G

It's written on the chart there, at the foot end of the bed

C Am

They think I'm blind, that I can't read it

F C G

But I've read it, every word and every word it says is death

Am F C

So confession. Is that the reason that you came?

Am F G

Get it off my chest before I check out of the game

Am F C

Since you mention it, well, there's thirteen things I'll name

Dm F G C

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

[Verse 2]

C Am

August '49, North Montana

F C G

The hottest day on record, the forest tinder dry

C Am

Lightning strikes in the mountains

F C G

I was crew chief at the jump base, I prepared the boys to fly

Am F C

Picked the drop zone, C47 comes in low

Am F G

Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you, "Go"

Am F C

See the circle of the fire down below

Dm F G C

Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters

[Verse 3]

C Am

Gauged the fire, I'd seen bigger

F C G

So I ordered them to side hill, we'd fight it from below

C Am

We'd have our backs to the river

F C G

We'd have it licked by morning, even if we took it slow

Am F C

But the fire crowned, jumped the valley just ahead

Am F G

There was no way down, headed for the ridge instead

Am F C

Too big to fight it, we'd have to fight that slope instead

Dm F G C

Flames one step behind, above the cold Missouri waters

[Verse 4]

C Am

Sky had turned red, smoke was boiling

F C G

Two hundred yards to safety, death was fifty yards behind

C Am

I don't know why, I just thought it

F C G

I struck a match to waist high grass, running out of time

Am F C

Tried to tell them, "Step into this fire I've set."

Am F G

"We can't make it, this is the only chance you'll get"

Am F C

But they cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead

Dm F G C

I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters

[Interlude]

Dm Em F G

Aah, aah, aah, aah

G Dm Am F

Aah, aah, aah, aah

C Am

Then when I rose like the phoenix

F C G

In that world reduced to ashes, there were none, but two survived

C Am

I stayed that night and one day after

F C G

Carried bodies to the river, wondering how I stayed alive

Am F C

Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall

Am F G

I've had my say, I'll confess to nothing more

Am F C

I'll join them now, those that left me long before

Dm F G C

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

Dm F G C

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri shore

Dm Am F

Ooh, ooh, ooh

About Cold Missouri Waters Chords by James Keelaghan

Learn how to play Cold Missouri Waters by James Keelaghan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Cold Missouri Waters chords”, “Cold Missouri Waters guitar chords”, or “James Keelaghan Cold Missouri 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 Cold Missouri Waters chords and for experienced players who want accurate Cold Missouri Waters lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Am, F, G, Dm, Em.

FAQ — Cold Missouri Waters by James Keelaghan

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What key is "Cold Missouri Waters" in?

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