Verse 1
 
Was there ever a winter so cold and so sad 
                       C 
The river too weary to flood 
    G 
The storm and the wind cut through to my skin 
    C       D             G 
But she cut through to my blood 
 
Verse 2
 
I was looking for trouble to tangle my line 
                             C 
But trouble came looking for me 
  G 
I knew I was standing on treacherous ground 
      C           D           G 
I was sinking too fast to run free 
 
Chorus
         C    Am   G    D 
With her scheming, idle ways 
    C       Am    G 
She left me poor enough 
 
The storming wind cut through to my skin 
    C       D             G  
But she cut through to me blood 
 
Verse 3
 
I would not be asking, I would not be seen 
                         C 
A-begging on mountain or hill 
        G 
But I’m ready and blind with my hands tied behind 
     C         D          G 
I’ve neither a mind nor a will 
 
Chorus
         C    Am   G    D 
With her scheming, idle ways 
    C       Am    G 
She left me poor enough 
 
The storming wind cut through to my skin 
    C       D             G  
But she cut through to me blood 
 
Verse 4
 
It’s bitter the need of the poor ditching boy 
                               C 
He’ll always believe what they say 
     G 
They tell him it’s hard to be honest and true 
        C          D           G 
Does he mind if he doesn’t get paid?  
           
 
Chorus
         C    Am   G    D 
With her scheming, idle ways 
    C       Am    G 
She left me poor enough 
 
The storming wind cut through to my skin 
    C       D             G       C  D  G 
But she cut through to me blood