Sheriff John Brown Chords

Lyrics & chords

[Intro 1]
[Am][Em][Am][Em]
[Am][Em][Am][C][Em]

[Verse 1]
[Am]Sheriff
John Brown just [Em]wandered into town
[Am]Looking for a cripple and a [Em]thief
A [Am]black man and a woman and
a [Em]lonesome guy like me
Just [Am]trying to raise the stakes
so we can [Em]be free
[Am]The dustballs were blowing t[Em]he sun
it cracked the ground
Where [Am]could a crime like
this ever be [Em]found
Good [Am]people of the town said
to [Em]sheriff John Brown
[Am]Go and shoot those invalids [Em]right down

[Verse 2]
I said [Bm]Sheriff
No don't [Am]you be cruel
It could happen to [Em]you now

[Verse 3]
What [Am]ex actly have they done
said [Em]sheriff John Brown
For [Am]me to shoot those poor
old bastard[Em]s down
Then [Am]outstepped the preacher
with his [Em]hand upon his heart
[Am]Can 't you see that I've
been chosen by [Em]god
And I [Am]tell you this for nothing
That [Em]crowd ain't no good
They're [Am]standing out
just like a sore [Em]thumb
But [Am]yes I do agree said
the [Em]lawyer on the left
I'd [Am]kill them now if it were up [Em]to me

[Verse 4]
But I said [Bm]sheriff
Don't [Am]be cruel
It could happen to [Em]you now

[Verse 5]
[Am]Out into the wilderness the
[Em]sheriff he did ride
[Am]Heading for the river bridge
the [Em]laws you must abide
Two [Am]hours became three,
I knew [Em]he would come for me
The [Am]day grew long and I began to t[Em]ire
[Am]John Brown's face appeared
from [Em]behind the fire
[Am]Boys and girls whatcho doing
gonna be [Em]so free
The [Am]people of the town talk
[Em]dissapprovingly
Don't [Am]want to take you in,
that's [Em]not up to me

[Verse 6]
But I said [Bm]sheriff
Don't be [Am]cruel
It could happen to [Em]you now

[Verse 7]
But [Am]guilt and doubt they [Em]cloud his mind
He [Am]thought what exactly is the [Em]law
He [Am]didn't even know what [Em]it stood for
And [Am]who pays the cost for
[Em]all that is lost
[Am]Seems to me an impossibil[Em]ity
And [Am]who says what's right and
[Em]who says what's wrong
Who [Am]benefits it sure ain't [Em]me
And [Am]outstepped the woman saying
[Em]we mean you no harm
Come [Am]closer and I will read your [Em]palm

[Verse 8]
But I said [Bm]sheriff
Don't be [Am]cruel
It could happen to [Em]you now

[Verse 9]
That [Am]night he left a long road came
[Em]back without a rest
[Am]Knowingly he ques
[Em]tionned ??? lawyer on the left
[Am]Bet you've gone and set
them sinners [Em]free
Well [Am]yes replied the sheriff
[Em]they done nothing wrong
My [Am]god why can't you people [Em]see
And the [Am]preacher shot him down and
his [Em]head it hit the ground
[Am]The last you'll ever see
[Em]of poor John Brown
[Am]An d the moral

[Verse 10]
[Am]of this tale
[Em]it is simple it is plain
[Am]People always need someone to [Em]blame
But I [Bm]said sheriff

[Verse 11]
Don't [Am]be cruel
It could happen to you [Em]now

[Interlude 1]
[Am]
[Em][Am][Em][Am][Em]
[Am][Em]
But I said [Bm]sheriff

[Verse 12]
Don't [Am]be cruel
It could happen to [Em]you now