E A E
From Maine to San Francisco, for years, I rode the rails
E A E
Coast to coast, and border to border, I've been in about every jail
C G
One night around the Golden Gate, I caught a freight, and layin' in the bottom of the boxcar was a man
E
Named Billy Jack Washburn
Through the rain and the wind the train was flyin', I knew the man was layin' there dyin'
C G D
I had to try and save a man, with nothin' but my two bare hands and I did
He was just a kid
Verse 2:
E A E
Now me and Billy Jack, we laid around a few hobo camps for awhile
E A E
'Til Billy Jack got his strength back, and the sunshine gave him back his smile
C G D
We decided we would leave, and head on down to New Orleans, and we did
Me and the kid
But things weren't like they were before, I never had a friend jumpin' from the door
G D
I treated him like I was his dad, and gave him everything I had, which was nothin'
C D
Just the love for a friend, and a friend he was, 'til I lost him
Bridge:
Bm A
Billy Jack Washburn was his name
G D
I lost him down around Jacksonville, when he fell from the train
Bm A
I rolled off, and I hit the ground
G D
I picked his body up and carried him all the way back to town
C D
He was a friend of mine
Verse 3:
E A E
Now here I am, in Macon, Georgia, to help lay Billy Jack in the ground
E A E
And by the way, Macon, Georgia, is my hometown
C G D
When I picked his billfold up, I saw a picture of his mama and her name
And I cried like a baby
C D
'Cuz his mama, and my mama were the same
G C D
Well I haven't been home in twenty-six years, and when I do come home, it has to be like this
G C D
Sometimes old lady fate, she deals a terrible kiss
Bridge 2:
Bm A
Billy Jack Washburn was his so-called name
G D
I lost him down around Jacksonville, when he fell from the train
C G
But I lost more than a friend
C D
I'll never see my brother again
