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To Beat the Devil easy guitar chords by
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash

N/A
5.0 (1)
Verse 1
G
E
D

And I'd like to dedicate this to John and June, who helped

show me how to beat the devil.
G
Verse 2


It was winter time in Nashville,
C
G

down on music city row.

And I was lookin' for a place to
A
D

get myself out of the cold.
G

To warm the frozen feelin'
C

that was eatin' at my soul.
G
D
G

Keep the chilly wind off my guitar.
Verse 3
G

My thirsty wanted whisky; my
C

hungry needed beans,
G

But it'd been of month of paydays since
D

I'd heard that eagle scream.
G

So with a stomach full of empty
C

and a pocket full of dreams,
G
D

I left my pride and stepped

inside a bar.
G
E

Verse 4
E

Actually, I guess you'd
D

could call it a Tavern:
G

Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and

sawdust on the floor;
Verse 5

Friendly shadows.
G


I saw that there was just one old
C

man sittin' at the bar.
G

And in the mirror I could see him checkin'
D

me and my guitar.
G

An' he turned and said: "Come up here boy,
C

and show us what you are."
G
D

I said: "I'm dry." He bought me a beer.
G
Verse 6

He nodded at my guitar and said:
C

"It's a tough life, ain't it?"
G

I just looked at him. He said: "You
A
D

ain't makin' any money, are you?"
G

I said: "You've been readin'

my mail."
C

He just smiled and said: "Let
G

me see that guitar.

"I've got something
D

you oughta hear."
G

Then he laid it on me:
Verse 7
G

"If you waste your time a-talkin' to
C

to the people who don't listen,
G

"To the things that you are sayin',
D

who do you think's gonna hear.
G
D

"And if you should die explainin' how
C

the things that they complain about,
G

"Are things they could be changin',
D

who do you think's gonna care?"
G
Verse 8

D

There were other lonely singers in
C
G

a world turned deaf and blind,

Who were crucified for what they
D

tried to show.
G

And their voices have been scattered by
C
G

the swirling winds of time.

'Cause the truth remains that
D
G

no-one wants wants to know.
Verse 9
G

Well, the old man was a stranger,
C

but I'd heard his song before,
G

Back when failure had me locked out
D

on the wrong side of the door.
G

When no-one stood stood behind
C

me but my shadow on the floor,
G
D

And lonesome was more

than a state of mind.
G
Verse 10

C

You see, the devil haunts a hungry man,
G

If you don't wanna join him,
D

you got to beat him.
G

I ain't sayin' I beat the devil,
C
G

but I drank his beer for nothing.
D
G

Then I stole his song.
Verse 11
G

And you still can hear me singin'
C

to the people who don't listen,
G

To the things that I am sayin',
A
D

prayin' someone's gonna hear.
G

And I guess I'll die explaining how
C

the things that they complain about,
G

Are things they could be changin',
D

hopin' someone's gonna care.
G
Verse 12

D

I was born a lonely singer,
C
G

and I'm bound to die the same,

But I've got to feed
D

the hunger in my soul.
G

And if I never have a nickle,
C
G

I won't ever die ashamed.
D

'Cause I don't believe that no-one wants
G

wants to know.
Outro 1
G
E
D
G

C
G
D
G

C
G
D


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5.0 (1)
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  • E

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  • C

  • A

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