INTRO: Am


I built this house with my bare hands
       D               
On the shores of Louisian
                         G
Took my sweet cher Jolie-Ann
       Am
For my own, my very own



Now every man has got his pride
           D              
I tried to shelter and provide
                             G
But I can't stop this poison tide
        Am
Rolling in, rolling in


CHORUS:
         D               Am
Now I've nothing left to give her
                 D
No answer to her prayers
                     Am
Black ribbons on the water
      D               Am
Black ribbons for her hair



Then came the wind, then came the rain
     D              
We defied that hurricane
                         G
And we built this house again
         Am
Stone by stone, stone by stone



But in the gulf of Mexico
          D              
Some five thousand feet below
                         G
Oh, the devil's blood it flows
       Am
On and on, on and on


CHORUS:
     D               Am
I've nothing left to give her
                 D
No answer to her prayers
                     Am
Black ribbons on the water
      D               Am
Black ribbons for her hair


INSTRUMENTAL: Am    D  Am  D  G  Am



Oh, how her eyes they used to shine
        D              
Fairest in Evangeline
                           G
Now they stare so cold and blind
           Am
Through my soul, oh lord, my soul


CHORUS:
        D              Am
She was tangled in the salt-grass
                     D
Not a bullet left to spare
                     Am
Black ribbons on the water
      D               Am
Black ribbons for her hair
      D              Am
Black ribbons on the water
      D               Am
Black ribbons for her hair