Intro G ||x4 -----3-----------| -----0-----------| -----0---------0-| -----0---0h2-2---| -----------------| -3---------------| Verse 1 (spoken) G C G It was winter time in Nashville, down on music city row D And I was lookin' for a place to get myself out of the cold C D G Em To warm the frozen feelin' that was eatin' at my soul C D And keep the chilly wind off my guitar G C G My thirsty wanted whisky, my hungry needed beans G D But it'd been of month of paydays since I've heard that eagle scream C D G Em So with my stomach full of empty and a pocket full of dreams C D G I left my pride and stepped inside a bar Em Actually I guess you could call it a Tavern C Am D Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and sawdust on the floor G Friendly shadows C G I saw that there was just one old man sittin' at the bar D And in the mirror I could see him checkin' me and my guitar C D G Em He turned and said "Come up here boy and show us what you are" C D I said "I'm dry" and he brought me a beer G C G He nodded at my guitar and said "It's a tough life, ain't it" D I just looked at him, and he said "You ain't makin' any money, are ya?" C D G I said "You've been readin' my mail". He just smiled and said Em C G Let me see your guitar, I've got something you want to hear. Then he laid it on me Chorus G C If you waste your time a talkin' to the people who don't listen G D To the things that you are sayin', who do you think's gonna hear G C And if you should die explaining how the things that they complain about G D G Are things they could be changin' who do you think's gonna care D C G There were other lonely singers in a world turned deaf and blind D Who were crucified for what they tried to show G C G And their voices have been scattered by the swirling winds of time D G Cause the truth remains that no one wants to know Verse 2 (spoken) G C G Well, the old man was a stranger, but I'd heard his song before D Back when failure had me locked out on the wrong side of the door C D G Em When no one stood behind me but my shadow on the floor C D And lonesome was more than a state of mind G G You see, the devil haunts a hungry man D If you don't wanna join him you got to beat him C D GEm I ain't sayin' I beat the devil but I drank his beer for nothing CD G Then I stole his song Chorus G C And you still can hear me singin' to the people who don't listen G D To the things that I am sayin' prayin' someone?s gonna hear G C And I guess I'll die explaining how the things that they complain about G D G Are things they could be changin' hopin' someone?s gonna care D C G I was born a lowly singer, and I'm bound to die the same C G D But I've got to feed the hunger in my soul G C G And if I never have a nickel I won't ever die ashamed D G Cause I don't believe that no one wants to know