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Date: 10/16/96; 11:49:00 AM
From: "Krall, Steve" 
Subject: Joe Ely: Letter to Laredo

Letter to Laredo

Written and performed by Joe Ely,
appearing on his album, Letter to Laredo
Transcribed by Steve Krall (steve.krall@daytonoh.ncr.com)


Intro:  HOT spanish flamenco guitar

Verse 1:
   Em           D
As I was riding across the Mississippi
  Em                  D
I stopped there and I cried.
  Em                D             G
No use for a man to keep a mighty river
G               D
All damned up inside.

Verse 2:
I jumped bail from the Sweetwater County
Now I'm on the run
On my head's, a 5 number bounty
For a crime, I never done.


Chorus:
          Bm
Take this Letter to Laredo
F#
To the one I love
Bm
Tell her to stay low,
F#
'neath the clouds above
    G                 D
Her love's my only alibi
     Bm              G
It's for her love I lied
  D           A
Yeah,  yeah, yeah


Verse 3:
Why did Frankie have to pull that trigger
Why did you have to hide
Sherriff thinks I was standin' with her
It's for her love I lied

Love will make a free man a prisoner
Make an honest man lie
Love can be tough love can be tender
It's my only alibi

Chorus

Break:  same chords as verse

Chorus:
          Bm
Take this Letter to Laredo
F#
To the one I love
Bm
Tell her to stay low,
F#
'neath the clouds above
    G                 D
Her love's my only alibi
     Bm              G
It's for her love I lied
  D        F#
Yeah,  yeeaaahhh