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The Unwelcome Guest

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Cmajor

90BPM

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[Intro]
C   Am    F    C
To the Crich man's brighAmt lodges FI ride in Cthis wind
On my Cgood horse I Amcall you my Dshiny Black GBess
To the pClayhouse of fAmortune
to tFake the bright sCilver
And gCold you have tAmaken from soFmebody eClse
ACs we go rAmiding in the dFamp foggy midCnight
You snCort, my good pAmony, and you gDive me your bGest
For you kCnow, and I knAmow, good horse,
'mFongst the rCich ones
How oCftimes we Amgo there an Funwelcome gCuest
Harmonica part:  4       4 (4) 5 (5)    5    4
-Normal number is exhale and ( ) is inhale
I've nCever took fAmood from the wFidows and orpChans
And nCever a hAmard working mDan I oppGressed
So tCake your pace eAmasy,
for hFome soon like liCghtning
We sCoon will be riAmding, my shFiny Black BCess
No fCat rich man's pAmony can eF'er overtCake you
And tChere's not a rAmider from the eDast to the wGest
Could hCold you a lAmight
in this dFark mist and mCidnight
When the pCotbellied tAmhieves
chase their uFnwelcome gCuest
Harp: 7           7 6 5      5  (5)        4
I dCon't know, good hAmorse,
as we tFrot in this dCark here
if roCbbing the rAmich is for woDrse or for bGest
They tCake it by stAmealing and lFying and gCambling
And CI take it mAmy way, my sFhiny Black BCess
I tCreat horses gAmood and I'm fFriendly to stCrangers
I rCide and your rAmunning makes my gDuns talk the bGest
And the rCangers and dAmeputies
are hFired by the rCich man
To cCatch me and hAmang me, my sFhining Black BCess
Harp:  6  (6)  6     6  (5)  5   7    (6)  5        4  (4)   5   (5)   5  5  (4)  4    4
 (5)   4     5  5  5 (4)  4
6    6   5      4  (4)   5  (5)   4      6   6  (5)  4     4  (5)    (6)    4
Yes, they'll caCtch me nAmapping one dFay and they'll kCill me
And then IC'll be gAmone but that wDon't be my eGnd
For my gCuns and my sAmaddle will aFlways be fCilled
By uCnwelcome tAmravellers and oFther brave mCen
And tChey'll take the mAmoney and spFread it out eCqual
JCust like the BAmible and the pDrophets suggGest
But the mCen that go rAmiding to hFelp these poor wCorkers
The rCich will cut dAmown like an uFnwelcome gCuest

All chords in this song (5)

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The Unwelcome Guest

by Billy Bragg

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

C Am F C

To the rich man's bright lodges I ride in this wind

C Am D G

On my good horse I call you my shiny Black Bess

C Am

To the playhouse of fortune

F C

to take the bright silver

C Am F C

And gold you have taken from somebody else

C Am F C

As we go riding in the damp foggy midnight

C Am D G

You snort, my good pony, and you give me your best

C Am

For you know, and I know, good horse,

F C

'mongst the rich ones

C Am F C

How oftimes we go there an unwelcome guest

Harmonica part: 4 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 4

-Normal number is exhale and ( ) is inhale

C Am F C

I've never took food from the widows and orphans

C Am D G

And never a hard working man I oppressed

C Am

So take your pace easy,

F C

for home soon like lightning

C Am F C

We soon will be riding, my shiny Black Bess

C Am F C

No fat rich man's pony can e'er overtake you

C Am D G

And there's not a rider from the east to the west

C Am

Could hold you a light

F C

in this dark mist and midnight

C Am

When the potbellied thieves

F C

chase their unwelcome guest

Harp: 7 7 6 5 5 (5) 4

C Am

I don't know, good horse,

F C

as we trot in this dark here

C Am D G

if robbing the rich is for worse or for best

C Am F C

They take it by stealing and lying and gambling

C Am F C

And I take it my way, my shiny Black Bess

C Am F C

I treat horses good and I'm friendly to strangers

C Am D G

I ride and your running makes my guns talk the best

C Am

And the rangers and deputies

F C

are hired by the rich man

C Am F C

To catch me and hang me, my shining Black Bess

Harp: 6 (6) 6 6 (5) 5 7 (6) 5 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 5 (4) 4 4

(5) 4 5 5 5 (4) 4

6 6 5 4 (4) 5 (5) 4 6 6 (5) 4 4 (5) (6) 4

C Am F C

Yes, they'll catch me napping one day and they'll kill me

C Am D G

And then I'll be gone but that won't be my end

C Am F C

For my guns and my saddle will always be filled

C Am F C

By unwelcome travellers and other brave men

C Am F C

And they'll take the money and spread it out equal

C Am D G

Just like the Bible and the prophets suggest

C Am F C

But the men that go riding to help these poor workers

C Am F C

The rich will cut down like an unwelcome guest

About The Unwelcome Guest Chords by Billy Bragg

Learn how to play The Unwelcome Guest by Billy Bragg with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Unwelcome Guest chords”, “The Unwelcome Guest guitar chords”, or “Billy Bragg The Unwelcome Guest 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 Unwelcome Guest chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Unwelcome Guest lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Am, F, D, G.

FAQ — The Unwelcome Guest by Billy Bragg

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What key is "The Unwelcome Guest" in?

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