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The Wall

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Jim Croce - The Wall (American Recording)
[Verse 1]
CWell, there's lots of strange men in cell-block ten,
but the strangest of them Gall
was a Fpal of mine who would Cspend his time
just Amstaring at the wCall, Fstaring at the wCall.
[Verse 2]
CIn his hand was a note that his gal had wrote,
which proves that crime don't pGay
the Fvery same gal that h'd Crobbed and stole for,
Amnaming her wedding Cday, Fnaming her wedding Cday.
[Chorus]
As he Flooked at the wall so Cstrong and tall,
I Fheard him softly Ccurse, "nFobody at all
has ever Cmade that wall, but AmI'm gonna be the Cfirst,
FI'm gonna be the Cfirst."
[Verse 3]
CWell the Warden walked by, said "Son don't try,
cause I'd hate to see you Gfall
cause there Fain't no doubt we're gonna Ccarry you out
if you Amever touch that Cwall, if you Fever touch that Cwall."
[Verse 4]
CBut a year has gone by since he made his try;
I can still recalGl
how Fhard he tried and the Cway he died,
but he Amnever topped the Cwall, he Fnever topped the Cwall.
[Chorus]
FMany a man who has sChook this can,
and FI know a man who Ctried.
The Fnewspapers called it a Cjailbreak plan,
but AmI know it was suicCide; FI know that it was suiCcide.
(Song goes to "Cotton Mouth River")
[Verse 1]
Well I Cknow that I shouldn't have Amdone it
I Fknow it jGust wasn't Cright
Cause they got me backed up to the GCottonmouth Amriver
and I Fcan't cross Glate at Cnight.
[Chorus]
Yeah, there's Glots of stories told about the CCottonmouth river,
 Fthey tell them time and Gagain,
 about the Cmen who tried to cross that Griver by Ammoonlight
 Fnever were Gheard from aCgain.
[Verse 2]
Well Cif I had my life to live Amover,
I'd'vFe gone to Gwork that Cday
instead of going into town and sGhooting him Amdown
for a tFhing I never Gheard him Csay.
[Chorus]
Yeah, there's Glots of stories told about the CCottonmouth river,
Fthey tell them time and Gagain,
about the Cmen who tried to cross that Griver by Ammoonlight
Fnever were Gheard from Cagain.
[Verse 3]
Well, CI'd just made it through the Amcanebreak
and Fgot one fGoot in the Cmud.
I can hear the hounds a-bayin' but the Gsnake around my Amankle's
telling Fme my running dGays are Cdone.
[Chorus]
Yeah, there's Glots of stories told about the CCottonmouth river,
Fthey tell them time and Gagain,
about the Cmen who tried to cross that rGiver by mAmoonlight
Fnever were Gheard from Cagain.
C F G C

All chords in this song (4)

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The Wall

by Jim Croce

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Jim Croce - The Wall (American Recording)

[Verse 1]

Well, there's lots of strange men in cell-block ten,

but the strangest of them all

F C

was a pal of mine who would spend his time

Am C F C

just staring at the wall, staring at the wall.

[Verse 2]

In his hand was a note that his gal had wrote,

which proves that crime don't pay

F C

the very same gal that h'd robbed and stole for,

Am C F C

naming her wedding day, naming her wedding day.

[Chorus]

F C

As he looked at the wall so strong and tall,

F C F

I heard him softly curse, "nobody at all

C Am C

has ever made that wall, but I'm gonna be the first,

F C

I'm gonna be the first."

[Verse 3]

Well the Warden walked by, said "Son don't try,

cause I'd hate to see you fall

F C

cause there ain't no doubt we're gonna carry you out

Am C F C

if you ever touch that wall, if you ever touch that wall."

[Verse 4]

But a year has gone by since he made his try;

I can still recall

F C

how hard he tried and the way he died,

Am C F C

but he never topped the wall, he never topped the wall.

[Chorus]

F C

Many a man who has shook this can,

F C

and I know a man who tried.

F C

The newspapers called it a jailbreak plan,

Am C F C

but I know it was suicide; I know that it was suicide.

(Song goes to "Cotton Mouth River")

[Verse 1]

C Am

Well I know that I shouldn't have done it

F G C

I know it just wasn't right

G Am

Cause they got me backed up to the Cottonmouth river

F G C

and I can't cross late at night.

[Chorus]

G C

Yeah, there's lots of stories told about the Cottonmouth river,

F G

they tell them time and again,

C G Am

about the men who tried to cross that river by moonlight

F G C

never were heard from again.

[Verse 2]

C Am

Well if I had my life to live over,

F G C

I'd've gone to work that day

G Am

instead of going into town and shooting him down

F G C

for a thing I never heard him say.

[Chorus]

G C

Yeah, there's lots of stories told about the Cottonmouth river,

F G

they tell them time and again,

C G Am

about the men who tried to cross that river by moonlight

F G C

never were heard from again.

[Verse 3]

C Am

Well, I'd just made it through the canebreak

F G C

and got one foot in the mud.

G Am

I can hear the hounds a-bayin' but the snake around my ankle's

F G C

telling me my running days are done.

[Chorus]

G C

Yeah, there's lots of stories told about the Cottonmouth river,

F G

they tell them time and again,

C G Am

about the men who tried to cross that river by moonlight

F G C

never were heard from again.

C F G C

About The Wall Chords by Jim Croce

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

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