Rock Salt and Nails (Bruce "Utah" Phillips) (Capo II, Key of F) E A E A E By the banks of the river, where the willows hang down E C#m A E A E And the wild birds all warble, with their high lonesome sound C#m A E A E Down in some hollow, where the waters run cold E D A E A E It was there I first listened to the lies that you told. E A E A E If the young men were blackbirds, the young men were thrushes, E C#m A E A E I would lay by the hours in the cold rainy marshes. E C#m A E A E If the young men were squirrels with high bushy tails, E D A E A E I'd fill up my shotgun with rock salt and nails. (Harp and guitar-Instrumental verse) E A E A E Now I lie in my bed and I see your sweet face. E C#m A E A E The past I remember, time cannot erase. E C#m A E A E The letters you wrote me were written in shame, E D A E A E And I know that your conscience echoes my name. E A E A E Lord, I lie here each night all alone and I weep. E C#m A A E Nothing ain't worse than a night without sleep. E C#m A E A E I walk out alone under the sky E D A E A E Too empty to sing, too lonesome to cry. (Guitar break) E A E A E If the ladies were blackbirds and the young men were thrushes, E C#m A E A E I'd lie there for hours in the cold rainy marshes. E C#m A E A E If the ladies were squirrels with high bushy tails, E D A E A E I'd fill up my shotgun with rock salt and nails. E D A E A E I'd fill up my shotgun with rock salt and nails. C#m = 446654