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The Line

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This is from the Ghost of Tom Joad album. Hope it's more or less correct.
The Line - Bruce Springsteen  
CI got my discharge from Fort Irwin 
took a place on Fthe San Diego county line C  
felt fuFnny bein' a civilCian again 
it'd been some time G  
my wifCe had died a year ago 
I was still tryin' to Ffind my way back wholCe 
I went to work fFor the INS on Cthe line 
with the CGalifornia Border PatroCl 
Bobby Ramirez was a ten year veteran F  
and we became friendCs 
his fFamily was from GuanajuaCto 
so the job it was different for hGim 
he said' "They rCisk death in the deserts and mountains" 
pay all they gFot to the smugglers ringCs, 
we send 'em hFome and they come right bCack again 
Carl, huGnger is a powerful tChing." 
Well I Fwas good at doin' what I was Ctold 
kept my Funiform pressed and cClean 
at nFight I chased their sChadows 
through the arroyos and ravinGes 
Cdrug runners, farmers with their families, 
young women with Flittle children by their sideCs 
come night we'd Fwait out in the canCyons 
and try to keep G'em from crossin' the linCe 
Well the first time that I saw her 
she was iFn the holdin' pen C  
Our eFyes met and she looked Caway 
then she looked back agaiGn 
her hCair was black as coal 
her eyes remiFnded me of what I'd losCt 
she had a Fyoung child cryin' in her arms 
and CI asked, "SenorGa, is there anything I can Cdo" 
There's a Am7bar in Tijuana 
Fwhere me and Bobby drink alongside 
the same peoCple we'd sent bGack the day before C  
we met tAm7here she said her name was LoFuisa 
she was from SoCnora and had just come nGorth 
we daAm7nced and I held her in my aFrms 
and I knew what GI would Cdo 
she said she had some fFamily in Madera couCnty 
if she, her child and her younger bGrother could just get throuCgh 
At night they come across the levy 
in the seFarchlights dusty glow C  
we'd rFush 'em in our BCroncos 
and force 'em back down into the river beloGw 
she cClimbed into my truck 
she lFeaned towards me and we kCissed 
as we dFrove her brothers shirt slipped oCpen 
and I sGaw the tape across his cChest 
We were Am7just about on the hFighway 
when Bobby's jCeep come up in the dGust on my riCght 
I puAm7lled over and let my eFngine run 
and stepped Cout into his lGights 
I fAm7elt myself movin' 
fFelt my gun restin' 'neath mGy hand C  
we stood there sFtarin' at each oCther 
as off thGrough the arroyo she rCan 
Bobby Ramirez he never said nothin' 
6 Fmonths later I left the lCine 
I drFifted to the central vCalley 
and took what work I could fGind 
at Cnight I searched the local bars 
Fand the migrant towns 
Lookin' for my LouCisa 
with the blGack hair faCllin' down 

All chords in this song (4)

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The Line

by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

This is from the Ghost of Tom Joad album. Hope it's more or less correct.

The Line - Bruce Springsteen

I got my discharge from Fort Irwin

F C

took a place on the San Diego county line

F C

felt funny bein' a civilian again

it'd been some time

my wife had died a year ago

F C

I was still tryin' to find my way back whole

F C

I went to work for the INS on the line

G C

with the California Border Patrol

Bobby Ramirez was a ten year veteran

and we became friends

F C

his family was from Guanajuato

so the job it was different for him

he said' "They risk death in the deserts and mountains"

F C

pay all they got to the smugglers rings,

F C

we send 'em home and they come right back again

G C

Carl, hunger is a powerful thing."

F C

Well I was good at doin' what I was told

F C

kept my uniform pressed and clean

F C

at night I chased their shadows

through the arroyos and ravines

drug runners, farmers with their families,

F C

young women with little children by their sides

F C

come night we'd wait out in the canyons

G C

and try to keep 'em from crossin' the line

Well the first time that I saw her

F C

she was in the holdin' pen

F C

Our eyes met and she looked away

then she looked back again

her hair was black as coal

F C

her eyes reminded me of what I'd lost

she had a young child cryin' in her arms

C G C

and I asked, "Senora, is there anything I can do"

Am7

There's a bar in Tijuana

where me and Bobby drink alongside

C G C

the same people we'd sent back the day before

Am7 F

we met there she said her name was Louisa

C G

she was from Sonora and had just come north

Am7 F

we danced and I held her in my arms

G C

and I knew what I would do

F C

she said she had some family in Madera county

G C

if she, her child and her younger brother could just get through

At night they come across the levy

F C

in the searchlights dusty glow

F C

we'd rush 'em in our Broncos

and force 'em back down into the river below

she climbed into my truck

F C

she leaned towards me and we kissed

F C

as we drove her brothers shirt slipped open

G C

and I saw the tape across his chest

Am7 F

We were just about on the highway

C G C

when Bobby's jeep come up in the dust on my right

Am7 F

I pulled over and let my engine run

C G

and stepped out into his lights

Am7

I felt myself movin'

F G C

felt my gun restin' 'neath my hand

F C

we stood there starin' at each other

G C

as off through the arroyo she ran

Bobby Ramirez he never said nothin'

F C

6 months later I left the line

F C

I drifted to the central valley

and took what work I could find

at night I searched the local bars

and the migrant towns

Lookin' for my Louisa

G C

with the black hair fallin' down

About The Line Chords by Bruce Springsteen

Learn how to play The Line by Bruce Springsteen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Line chords”, “The Line guitar chords”, or “Bruce Springsteen The Line 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 Line chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Line lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, Am7.

FAQ — The Line by Bruce Springsteen

How do I play "The Line" by Bruce Springsteen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Line" by Bruce Springsteen on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Line" by Bruce Springsteen free?

Yes. The chords for "The Line" by Bruce Springsteen are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Line" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Line" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Line"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Line" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Line" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Line" by Bruce Springsteen with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bruce Springsteen below.

What key is "The Line" in?

The chords for "The Line" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, Am7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.