Key: D
Introduction: Dm Gm Dm A7
Dm Gm
Blackbird sitting on an open gate
Dm A7
Cattle out walking the plains
Dm Gm
West wind blowing in waist-high wheat
A Dm
Sideways in the rain
Dm Gm
Bloodhound spent, can't get no trail
Dm A7
Ain't no sign of man
Dm Gm
Wanna get ourselves on the straight and the narrow
A Dm
Gonna need a better plan
Dm
Roll your sleeves up
Gm
Hold back the dam
Dm A7
Fill these bags with sand
Dm
Every young boy, woman
Gm
And every man
A Dm
Has got to lend a hand
Dm Gm
It ain't no old wives tale, it ain't no fable
Dm A7
Payback is coming around
Dm Gm
The hourglass is sitting there on the table
A Dm
Filled on both sides now
Dm Gm
The work is potluck, grab a hatchet
Dm A7
Wear any glove that fits
Dm Gm
You can't take a punch, well you might as well quit
A Dm
Won't matter how hard you hit
Dm
Roll your sleeves up
Gm
Shovel the land
Dm A7
Rise up and learn how to stand
Dm
Now, you're a toothless woman
Gm
Or a one armed man
A Dm
You too got to lend a hand
C
We're losing daylight, you got to be swift
Dm
You ain't got brains that you can lift
C
Be an optimist and see the glass half full
A7
You don't got to like what you've got in it
Dm Gm
When your father gets home he's gonna turn on the lights
Dm A7
We're up to our throats in knifes
Dm Gm
His eyes will flash and his teeth will grind
A Dm
He'll say, "You're on your own, look alive!"
Dm Gm
Suppose I quit you, my wayward tribe
Dm A7
Whatever would you do?
Dm Gm
Now take me to Hades, or take me to Memphis
A Dm
Just don't take me for one of you
Dm
Roll your sleeves up
Gm
The fat lady sang
Dm A7
Grab your buckets and cans
Dm
Come over the border
Gm
Your papers in order
A Dm
You too got to lend a hand
Dm
Roll your sleeves up
Gm
Hold back the dam
Dm A7
Fill these bags with sand
Dm
Every young boy, woman
Gm
And every tired old man
A Dm
You too got to lend a hand