Dead Mans Boots

F                        C
You see these work boots in my 
hands, they'll probably fit you now 
my son
Bb         C         Dm        
Take them, they're a gift from 
Gm  Gm7           C7
me, why don't you try them on?
F                        C
It would do your old man good to see
 you walking in these boots one day
Bb            C      Dm       
And take your place among the 
Gm      C7   C        F
men who work upon the slipway


[Chorus]

      C                   F
These dead man's boots, though 
they're old and curled
       Bb                      
When a feller needs a job and a 
 F
place in the world
Bb                  C      Dm       
Gm (Let it ring)
And it's time for a man to put down 
roots
    C7                       C
And walk to the river in his old 
man's boots


[Intro Half] (Do this once, instead 
of twice like you do at first)

|  F  |  C  |  %  |  %  |


[Verse 2]

F                             C
He said, "I'm nearly done and asking
 this, that you do one final thing 
for me
       Bb     C     Dm     Gm   
You're barely but a sapling, and
     Gm7                 C
 you think that you're a tree
F                             C
If you need a seed to prosper, you 
must first put down some roots
     Bb       C        Dm   Gm  
Just one foot then the other in 
      C          F
these dead man's boots"


[Chorus]

      C                  F
These dead man's boots know their 
way down the hill
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           Bb                      
They could walk there themselves 
       F
and they probably will
          Bb            C        
There's a place for you there to 
Dm        Gm
sink your roots
           C7                      
And take a walk to the river in his
 C
 old man's boots


[Mini Bridge]

|  F  |  Eb  |


[Verse 3]

        Bb                       F
I said, "Why in the hell would I 
            Gm             C
do that? And why would I agree?"
         Bb       C        
When his hand was all that I'd 
Dm    Gm         Gm7        C7
received, as far as I remember
     Bb                     F     
It's not as if he'd spoiled me 
      Gm                      C
with his kindness up to then you see
        Bb       C           Dm  
I'd a plan of me own and I'd quit
      Gm           C         
 this place when I came of age 
  F
September


[Chorus]

      C                  F
These dead man's boots know their 
way down the hill
           Bb                      
They could walk there themselves 
       F
and they probably will
    Bb        C            Dm    
I'd plenty of choices, and plenty
       Gm
 other routes
         C7                     
And he'd never see me walking in 
       C
these dead man's boots


[Mini Bridge]

|  F  |  Eb  |


[Verse 4]
(Varies a little from Verse 3)
Bb                     F          
What was it made him think I'd be 
Gm                       C
happy ending up like him?
          Bb     C       Dm
When he'd hardly got two half 
           Gm         Gm7      
pennies left, or a broken pot to 
           C7
piss in
Bb                            F  
He wanted this same thing for me,
     Gm             C
 was that his final wish?
         Bb        C            Dm  
     Gm   C (Root note)
He said, "What the hell are you 
going to do?"
N.C.
I said, "Anything but this!"

F
(Listen to the song to know where to
 play it)


[Other]

      C                           
These dead man's boots know their 
F
way down the hill
         Bb                        
They can walk there themselves and 
     F
they most likely will
         Bb                        
But they won't walk with me because
     F
 I'm off the other way
     Bb                            
I've had it up to here, I'm going 
  F
to have my say
     Bb                         
When all you've got left is that 
 F
cross on the wall
       Bb                      
I want nothing from you, I want 
 F
nothing at all
      Gm                           
Not a pension nor a pittance, when 
     F
your whole life is through
    Bb                         
Get this through your head, I'm 
 C
nothing like you
    Bb                              
      Bb             Gm (Let ring)
I'm done with all the arguments, 
there'll be no more dispute
            C                       
      Ab   Gm    F (Rings until 
finishes)
And you'll die before you see me in 
your dead man's boots