Intro:  Dm Gm Dm A7 
        Dm Gm A Dm 

Verse:
 
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 


[Refrão]

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 



Verse:
 
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 


[Refrão]

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 



Solo: Dm Gm Dm A7 Dm Gm A Dm 

Bridge: 

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 

Verse:
 
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 


[Refrão]

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