The Maple Tree

Capo 2


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Poor bottom Virginia
       D           E7
In the spring of '43
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Waltzin' to your Ma's
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Clawhammer banjo melody
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Tryin' to catch our breath
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Beneath the lonesome maple tree
D             A
Shakin' and a weepin'
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You declared your love for me

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Sooner than we'd crossed the
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Threshold of your cabin door
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'Fore the blossoms fell
            D                 E7
Our country called you off to war
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I saw you to the station
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    D                 E7
And above the engines roar
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Shakin' and a weepin'
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Swore I'd wait forever more

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And then soldier who
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They mistook for you
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Bore the brunt of the battle and 
E7
died
       D      A
The misguided news
      D       E7
Ended my life too
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For shakin' and a weepin'
  E7                   A
I became your brothers bride

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Hangin' out the washin'
     D            E7
Of a boy I hardly knew
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Heavy with the promise
     D          E7
Only dyin can undo
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You crossed the prairie homeward
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With your heart beat black and blue
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Shakin' and a weepin' cause your
E7             A
Woman proved untrue

           D        A
And at the break of day
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Watched your body sway
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From the arm of an old maple tree
        D         A
Cut the ropes red braid
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With the same sweet blade
     D             A
That shakin' and a weepin'
        E7              A
Sent me swiftly home to thee
                              E7   
Wakin' and a sleepin' by your side 
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eternaly