*Note* This was originally interpreted from a live version on youtube. Below it I've included the same song as
released on the album Fever Breaks. It includes the since-added verses.
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*Original upload from live version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FBsZD50-s
(Lyrics suggestions would be most appreciated; particularly the first line of the second verse and
confirmation of the third verse. If you really want to assist me here, listen to the lines and try to decipher
them before reading my interpretation so you aren't influenced. A better audio only recording of the same
performance can be heard here --> https://archive.org/details/joshritter2015-05-29. Also an amazing resource
in general for listening to recordings of live shows!)
Capo 5 (Capo 2 in a different performance)
Fmaj7 - xx3210
[Intro]
Am Am Am Am
[Verse 1]
Am C/G
Buried momma standing with the knife still in her chest,
F C/G G
As per her last instructions at her death.
Am C/G
Said, “You’ll never get to Heaven son so go to Hell real slow.”
Dm Dm
But the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body if the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F
But an angel guards the garden.
Am C/G G Fmaj7
Am C/G G Fmaj7
[Verse 2]
Am C/G
I killed men in Blue Eyes, Barberco, New Life in Crystal Wells.
F C/G G
In every town the broken hearted rang their steeple bells.
Am C/G
For every man a box, for every hole a rose.
Dm Dm
And the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body if the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F Am
But an angel guards the garden, an angel guards the garden.
C/G G Fmaj7
Am C/G G Fmaj7
[Verse 3]
Am C/G
Then one morning near ArKana, I chanced to watch some violets rise,
F C/G G
Their lunar blues undoing down the fastening stays of night.
Am C/G
Now lord how sweet to sleep beneath flowers such as those,
Dm Dm
But the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body if the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F Am
But an angel guards the garden, an angel guards the garden.
C/G G Fmaj7
Am C/G G Fmaj7
Am
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*Album version (No capo)
[Intro]
Am C/G F C/G G
Am C/G F C/G G
Am
[Verse 1]
Am C/G
Buried momma standing with the knife still in her chest,
F C/G G
As per her last instructions at her death.
Am C/G
Said, “You’ll never get to Heaven son so go to Hell real slow.”
Dm Dm
Now the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am Am
[Verse 2]
Am C/G
I've stacked the deck, I've held the dead man's hand so many times,
F C/G G
Eights and aces wishing for the death I hoped was mine,
Am C/G
But cards and guns are all the same, each man must draw his own,
Dm Dm
Now the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body when the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F
But an angel guards the garden.
F
[Verse 3]
Am C/G
I killed men in Blue Eyes, Barberco, New Life and Crystal Wells.
F C/G G
In every town the brokenhearted rang their steeple bells,
Am C/G
For every man a box and for every hole a rose.
Dm Dm
Now the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body when the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F
But an angel guards the garden.
F
Am C/G F C/G G
Am C/G F C/G G
Am
[Verse 4]
Am C/G
Then one morning near Arkana I chanced to watch some violets rise,
F C/G G
Their lunar blues undoing down the fastening stays of night and I
Am C/G
Thought how sweet to sleep beneath the flowers such as those.
Dm Dm
Now the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body when the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F
But an angel guards the garden
F
[Verse 5]
Am C/G
Sometimes I think 'bout mamma with the knife still in her chest.
F C/G G
Sometimes I think about all those lucky men I sent to rest,
Am C/G
And how it's them who are a'sleepin and it's me who is the ghost.
Dm Dm
Now the ground don’t want me momma, the ground don’t want me, no, no, no.
Am G
[Chorus]
F C/G
What is the body when the soul has flown?
G C/G
Has it only been forgotten?
F C/G
I wanna’ lay down in a field of bone,
G F
But an angel guards the garden.
[Outro]
F
Am C/G F C/G G
Am C/G F C/G G
Am
Source: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/josh_ritter/ground_dont_want_me_chords_1875507