Intro: | Bm | Gb | G | Gb | Verse 1: Bm I got a ragtime formula inside of my head Gb A-comin’ back to me now from the ages of the dead G If Tom Waits could yodel and I’ll bet that he’d can… Gb It up inside his head until it came a-crawlin’ back from the… Bm What do you do with a poison in your head? Gb Seepin’ and a-creepin’ into every single bed G Into your dreams, when you wake and you bake and you make Gb Bm Gb7 Every little try, but you can’t and you cry, “Mercy, mercy over me” Interlude: | Bm | Gb | Bm | G | Verse 2: Bm I’m just a cowboy singer and I’m trying all I can Gb To wake the spirit and the soul and to place it in your hand G Or take the holy Bible, and make you all liable Gb To sing in every church, in every bar in every land… Bm Or like a blackjack dealer I’m a-dealin’ out the cards Gb You fumble with your soul and you gamble with your lard… G But you can’t get to heaven if it’s where you want to go Gb Bm Gb7 You can’t use fat… you’ve got to gamble with your soul G Gb Gamble with your soul Interlude: | Bm | Gb | G | Gb | Verse 3: Bm No, you can’t go to church just to claim you’ve got a soul Gb You can’t pay the piper with your silver and your gold G You can’t run and hide from the burning inside Gb It’s your soul calling you… So you’d better make time for a date with a with a wild jungle ape Bm Gb Scratchin’ and a-grabbin’ in a wild jungle way G No, you can’t retire, you’ve got to look him in the eye Gb You’ve got to tangle with your soul Bm Gb7 G Gb Dance with the fire, got to dance with the fire Interlude: | Bm | Gb | G | Gb | Verse 4: Bm Well, you could call yourself a Christian, or a Muslim or a Jew… Gb You could call yourself a prophet or a liar or a fool… G But when the chips are on the table, you can’t use coal Gb You can’t use fat, you’ve got to gamble… Bm When the time draws near to lay down and die Gb And the sun is setting fast on a last blue sky G Will you say “Please!”, will you say, “Please!” Gb Bm Gb7 …it’s too late friends, for all your mercy over me G Gb All your mercy over me Outro: | Bm | Gb | G | Gb |
