The Ghost Of Robert Johnson by Ralph McTell
Key: EmEm | Capo: 0fr |  Left-Handed 

    


Intro
Em
Verse 1
Em
Down at the lonely crossroads
           Am
Where the gypsies buried their child
   G
A cigarette stub smolders
        B7
from a pack of Lucky Strike.
Em
Smoke drifts in the stillness
   Am
A guitar at his side
     B7
The ghost of Robert Johnson
                   B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
waits for the Greyhound  bus  to  ride.
Verse 2
          Em
When you hear those bus tyres humming
             Am
Glimpse the distant headlights pale
            G
That's the heart beat you hear thumping
          B7
From the hell hound on his trail.
Em
Better to keep moving
      Am
There is no place to hide
         B7
So the ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus  to  ride.
Bridge
           Am
It's the shadows in your mind
      Am6
That words can not express
           Em
It's the shiver in your heart
When it's full of emptiness
      Am
Like bottle that's been drained
      Am6
And smashed and cast aside
         B7
So the ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus  and rides.
Verse 3
     Em
When everything is in pieces
      Am
And smashed down on the ground
          G
Took the bottle by the neck
B7
Tuned the guitar down
         Em
When he hits those open strings
           Am
Hear that one long weeping glide ...
      B7
The ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus and  ride
Instrumental
Am Em
Am Em/B Am/C D B7
Em
Verse 4
        Em
In the twisting restless dark
             Am
When you're wishing time away
          G
Know you cannot have possesion
B7
Over judgement day
    Em
Betrayed by love in vain
         Am
Like som altar jilted bride
     B7
The ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus to  ride
Bridge
     Am
His guitar speaks for words unsung
             Am6
Alight with spark and fire
 Em
Seduces with a poet's tongue
Rhymes fear and dark desire
         Am
Makes a man plead like a child
          Am6
When his need outweighs his pride
      B7
The ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus and  rides.
Verse 5]
Em
Down at the lonely crossroads
       Am
Smoke drifts anticipating
     G
Whichever way the wind may blow
  B7
Eternity lies waiting
Em                      Am
Where imagination and reality collide
     B7
The ghost of Robert Johnson
               B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
Takes the Greyhound  bus to  ride.
Outro
[solo over Verse + repeated last line]
Em Am G B7
Em Am B7
B7/A  B/G B/F# Em
B7/A  B/G B/F# Em