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Billy Austin

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Dmajor

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BILLY AUSTIN - STEVE EARLE (1/2 DOWN/DROP D)
[Verse 1]
DMy name is BillGy Austin and AI'm twenty-nine yearDs old
I was Gborn in OklahDoma quarter BmCherokee I'm tolBmdA  G  
Don't remember OklahDoma been so Glong since I left Ahome
Seems like I've Galways been in Bmprison like I've Galways been aBmlonAeD  
DidnD't mean to hurt Gnobody never Athought I'd cross that Dline
I held Gup a filling Dstation like I'd Bmdone a hundred tiBmmesA  G  
The kid done like I Dtold him he Glay face down on the Afloor
guess I'll Gnever know what Bmmade me turn and Gwalk back through that BmdooArD  
The Dshot rang out like Gthunder my Aears rang like a Dbell
GNo one came Drunnin' so I Bmcalled the cops mBmyseAlfG  
Took their time to Dget there and I Gguess I could'a Arun
I Gknew I should be feeling Bmsomething but I Gnever shed tear BmoneA  D  
I diDdn't even make the Gpapers 'cause I Aonly killed one Dman
but my Gtrial was over Dquickly and then the Bmlong hard wait BmbegAanG  
Court appointed Dlawyer couldn't Glook me in the Aeye
He just stood Gup and closed his Bmbriefcase when Gthey sentenced me to BmdieA  D  
Now Dmy waitin's Gover as the Afinal hour drags Dby
I Gain't about Dto tell you that I Bmdon't deserve to BmdieA  G  
But there's twenty-seven Dmen here Gmostly black, brown and Apoor
MGost of em are Bmguilty who are Gyou to say for BmsurAe?D  
So wDhen the preacher comes to get Gme and they sAhave off all my Dhair
Could yoGu take that long walk Dwith me knowing Bmhell is waitin' tBmherAe?G  
Could you pull that Dswitch yourself Sir, with a Gsure and steady Ahand?
Could yGou still tell yousBmelf, Sir, that you're Gbetter than I Bmam?A  D  
GMy name is Billy DAustin I'm Gtwenty-nine years Aold
I was Gborn in OklahBmoma quarter GCherokee I'm Bmtold

All chords in this song (4)

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Billy Austin

by Steve Earle

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

BILLY AUSTIN - STEVE EARLE (1/2 DOWN/DROP D)

[Verse 1]

D G A D

My name is Billy Austin and I'm twenty-nine years old

G D Bm Bm A G

I was born in Oklahoma quarter Cherokee I'm told

D G A

Don't remember Oklahoma been so long since I left home

G Bm G Bm A D

Seems like I've always been in prison like I've always been alone

D G A D

Didn't mean to hurt nobody never thought I'd cross that line

G D Bm Bm A G

I held up a filling station like I'd done a hundred times

D G A

The kid done like I told him he lay face down on the floor

G Bm G Bm A D

guess I'll never know what made me turn and walk back through that door

D G A D

The shot rang out like thunder my ears rang like a bell

G D Bm Bm A G

No one came runnin' so I called the cops myself

D G A

Took their time to get there and I guess I could'a run

G Bm G Bm A D

I knew I should be feeling something but I never shed tear one

D G A D

I didn't even make the papers 'cause I only killed one man

G D Bm Bm A G

but my trial was over quickly and then the long hard wait began

D G A

Court appointed lawyer couldn't look me in the eye

G Bm G Bm A D

He just stood up and closed his briefcase when they sentenced me to die

D G A D

Now my waitin's over as the final hour drags by

G D Bm Bm A G

I ain't about to tell you that I don't deserve to die

D G A

But there's twenty-seven men here mostly black, brown and poor

G Bm G Bm A D

Most of em are guilty who are you to say for sure?

D G A D

So when the preacher comes to get me and they shave off all my hair

G D Bm Bm A G

Could you take that long walk with me knowing hell is waitin' there?

D G A

Could you pull that switch yourself Sir, with a sure and steady hand?

G Bm G Bm A D

Could you still tell youself, Sir, that you're better than I am?

G D G A

My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old

G Bm G Bm

I was born in Oklahoma quarter Cherokee I'm told

About Billy Austin Chords by Steve Earle

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

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