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Ballad Of Spider John

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[Intro]
Am
[Verse 1]
Am                 C
Spider John is my name, friend
 D
I'm in between freights and I sure
          Am
would be obliged
          C              G
If you'd share your company
 Am                    C
I know this may sound strange to you
            D
But if you wait till the song is sung
                 Am
and the story is told
           C          G
You might come to understand
         Am                    C
Why I'm old and bent and devil-spent,
D                 G
runnin' out of time
       Am              C
When I long ago held a royal flush in
     D  D7
my hand
[Chorus]
            Em
Oh, I was a supermarket fool
A7
I was a roll-the-bank stool-pigeon,
Em          A7
robbin' my hometown
       Em
I thought I lost my blues
        A7
Yes, I thought I paid my dues
   F                  C               G
I thought I'd found a life to suit my style
                     G              F
But here I sit, ol’ Spider John the robber-man
C               Am
Long, tall, and handsome
         G                  F
Yes, ol’ Spider John with a loaded
      C      Am
hand, takin' ransom
[Verse 2]
 Am                C
Then one day I met Diamond Lill
D
She was the sweetest thing, I
         Am
declare, that the summer breeze had
C             G
ever blown my way
    Am                C
But Lilly she had no idea, of my
D               G
illustrious occupation
     Am
She thought I was a saint, not a
C             G
sinner, gone astray
                 Am
But you see that word got around and
C
Lilly left town
  D               G
I never saw her again
Am                      C
Tossin' and turnin', 'causin' my heart
      D   D7
to grieve
[Chorus]
            Em
Oh, I was a supermarket fool
A7
I was a roll-the-bank stool-pigeon,
Em          A7
robbin' my hometown.
       Em
I thought I lost my blues
        A7
Yes, I thought I paid my dues
   F                  C               G
I thought I'd found a life to suit my style
                     G              F
But here I sit, ol’ Spider John the robber-man
C               Am
Long, tall, and handsome
         G                  F
Yes, ol’ Spider John with a loaded
      C      Am
hand, takin' ransom
[Verse 3]
Am              C
That is all my story
D
It's been these thirty years since I
             Am
took to the road
            C              G
To find my precious jewel one
Am                C                D
And if you see my Lilly, won't you give
        G
her my regards
             Am
Tell her ol’ Spider got tangled in the
  C               G
black web that he spun
                     Am
You can tell her ol’ Spider got tangled
    C                 G
the black web that he spun

Ballad Of Spider John chords and lyrics

Free chords for Ballad Of Spider John by Jimmy Buffett. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]
Am
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]

Ballad Of Spider John Chords by Jimmy Buffett

Learn how to play Ballad Of Spider John by Jimmy Buffett with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ballad Of Spider John chords”, “Ballad Of Spider John guitar chords”, or “Jimmy Buffett Ballad Of Spider John 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 Ballad Of Spider John chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ballad Of Spider John lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, D, G, D7, Em.

Frequently asked questions about Ballad Of Spider John

How do I play "Ballad Of Spider John" by Jimmy Buffett on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ballad Of Spider John" by Jimmy Buffett 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 "Ballad Of Spider John" by Jimmy Buffett free?

Yes. The chords for "Ballad Of Spider John" by Jimmy Buffett are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Ballad Of Spider John" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ballad Of Spider John"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Ballad Of Spider John" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Ballad Of Spider John" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ballad Of Spider John" by Jimmy Buffett with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Jimmy Buffett below.

What key is "Ballad Of Spider John" in?

The chords for "Ballad Of Spider John" show the original chord names (including Am, C, D, G, D7, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.