Now playing

The Man Who Would Speak True

Chords

4.725 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/8

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 8Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Tuning: Standard EADGBe
**CAPO 7th FRET**
Chord reference (note the chord names are written as if there was
                 no capo, for simplicity):
e|--Am----D7sus4--------D7----Em7-0----A90----C0----G3----D2---|
B|--1----1------1----3----0----1----0----3---|
G|--2----2------2----4----2----0----0----2---|
D|--2----0------0----0----x----2----0----0---|
A|--0----x------x----5----4----3----2--------|
E|-------3------2----0----0---------3--------|
AmI had a lover, D7sus4name was Grace
She D7found me down in a D7sus4lonely place
AmShe dug me out with an D7sus4old jar bow
She drD7essed me up for to D7sus4take me home
She Amfed me words that I D7sus4could not taste
For I D7had no tongue, it had D7sus4been replaced
By a Amgreen and a-growin' flD7sus4ower which grew
And I D7knew if I ever spD7sus4oke I would speak truAme
---
D7sus4     D7     D7sus4
---
AmWe lived together in an D7sus4old hotel
D7Broke-down palace with a D7sus4wishing well
The Amneighbour girl taught me D7sus4how to spell
And D7how to steal what I D7sus4could not sell
But I Amfed my tongue on the D7sus4devil's rum
And a D7roadhouse run by a D7sus4godless bum
On a Amdrunken night with a D7sus4stolen gun
I D7shot my lover as she D7sus4made to run
The Em7judge said "Son, A9what have you done?"
But I Em7didn't speak a word, no I A9didn't speak one
And the Cjudge sent Gme awayD  
And they Cburied my GGrace, yeah, the D7sus4very next Amday
---
D7sus4     D7     D7sus4
---
AmThey sent me out on a D7sus4midnight train
In the D7rain rollin' down through the D7sus4dusty plain
Am4 men sittin' with an D7sus4old shotgun
D7silver stars pinned on D7sus4everyone
They Ambusted my mouth for to D7sus4get at my tongue
To D7see just how this had D7sus4all begun
So I Em7opened my mouth like a A9dragon's breath
I Em7only spoke truth, but it A9only brought death
And I laiCd those Gboys to reDst
For the Ctruth in Gtruth is a D7sus4terrible jesAmt
---
D7sus4     D7     D7sus4
---
For there Em7ain't no road but the A9road to home
There Em7ain't no crops but the A9one's you've sown
And if you Clearn one Gthing from Dme
You better Cguard your Gtongue like your D7sus4enemyAm  
---
D7sus4     D7     D7sus4
---
AmI came to ground in a D7sus4one horse town
On the D7western rim where the D7sus4sun go down
Where a Ambranded man might D7sus4start again
For to D7ride his rung, for to D7sus4lose his sin
But my Amtongue kept growing, it D7sus4would not cease
I D7grew quite weary, couldn't D7sus4get no release
So I Em7went to the magistrate and A9turned myself in
Em7Picked up a shovel and he A9made the grin
And they Cplanted me Gby the seDa
Now the Cbirds of the Gair make D7sus4nests on Amme
---
D7sus4     D7     D7sus4
Am      D7sus4     D7     D7sus4

All chords in this song (8)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Man Who Would Speak True

by Blitzen Trapper

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 7 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

D7sus4

Em7

Tuning: Standard EADGBe

**CAPO 7th FRET**

Chord reference (note the chord names are written as if there was

no capo, for simplicity):

Am D7sus4 D7 Em7 A9 C G D

e|-------------------0----0----0----3----2---|

B|--1----1------1----3----0----1----0----3---|

G|--2----2------2----4----2----0----0----2---|

D|--2----0------0----0----x----2----0----0---|

A|--0----x------x----5----4----3----2--------|

E|-------3------2----0----0---------3--------|

Am D7sus4

I had a lover, name was Grace

D7 D7sus4

She found me down in a lonely place

Am D7sus4

She dug me out with an old jar bow

D7 D7sus4

She dressed me up for to take me home

Am D7sus4

She fed me words that I could not taste

D7 D7sus4

For I had no tongue, it had been replaced

Am D7sus4

By a green and a-growin' flower which grew

D7 D7sus4 Am

And I knew if I ever spoke I would speak true

---

D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

---

Am D7sus4

We lived together in an old hotel

D7 D7sus4

Broke-down palace with a wishing well

Am D7sus4

The neighbour girl taught me how to spell

D7 D7sus4

And how to steal what I could not sell

Am D7sus4

But I fed my tongue on the devil's rum

D7 D7sus4

And a roadhouse run by a godless bum

Am D7sus4

On a drunken night with a stolen gun

D7 D7sus4

I shot my lover as she made to run

Em7 A9

The judge said "Son, what have you done?"

Em7 A9

But I didn't speak a word, no I didn't speak one

C G D

And the judge sent me away

C G D7sus4 Am

And they buried my Grace, yeah, the very next day

---

D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

---

Am D7sus4

They sent me out on a midnight train

D7 D7sus4

In the rain rollin' down through the dusty plain

Am D7sus4

4 men sittin' with an old shotgun

D7 D7sus4

silver stars pinned on everyone

Am D7sus4

They busted my mouth for to get at my tongue

D7 D7sus4

To see just how this had all begun

Em7 A9

So I opened my mouth like a dragon's breath

Em7 A9

I only spoke truth, but it only brought death

C G D

And I laid those boys to rest

C G D7sus4 Am

For the truth in truth is a terrible jest

---

D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

---

Em7 A9

For there ain't no road but the road to home

Em7 A9

There ain't no crops but the one's you've sown

C G D

And if you learn one thing from me

C G D7sus4 Am

You better guard your tongue like your enemy

---

D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

---

Am D7sus4

I came to ground in a one horse town

D7 D7sus4

On the western rim where the sun go down

Am D7sus4

Where a branded man might start again

D7 D7sus4

For to ride his rung, for to lose his sin

Am D7sus4

But my tongue kept growing, it would not cease

D7 D7sus4

I grew quite weary, couldn't get no release

Em7 A9

So I went to the magistrate and turned myself in

Em7 A9

Picked up a shovel and he made the grin

C G D

And they planted me by the sea

C G D7sus4 Am

Now the birds of the air make nests on me

---

D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

Am D7sus4 D7 D7sus4

About The Man Who Would Speak True Chords by Blitzen Trapper

Learn how to play The Man Who Would Speak True by Blitzen Trapper with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Man Who Would Speak True chords”, “The Man Who Would Speak True guitar chords”, or “Blitzen Trapper The Man Who Would Speak True 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 Man Who Would Speak True chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Man Who Would Speak True lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, D7sus4, D7, Em7, A9, C.

FAQ — The Man Who Would Speak True by Blitzen Trapper

How do I play "The Man Who Would Speak True" by Blitzen Trapper on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Man Who Would Speak True" by Blitzen Trapper 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 Man Who Would Speak True" by Blitzen Trapper free?

Yes. The chords for "The Man Who Would Speak True" by Blitzen Trapper are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Man Who Would Speak True" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Man Who Would Speak True"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Man Who Would Speak True" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Man Who Would Speak True" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Man Who Would Speak True" by Blitzen Trapper with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Blitzen Trapper below.

What key is "The Man Who Would Speak True" in?

The chords for "The Man Who Would Speak True" show the original chord names (including Am, D7sus4, D7, Em7, A9, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.