The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)
Ry Cooder
From the album "Bop Till You Drop" (1979)
Standard Tuning
[Verse 1]
C#m G#m7 C#m
My father told me, lying on his bed of death,
G#7
"Boy," he says, "woman she's gonna make it, don't fool yourself
C#m F#7
'Cause she's got something to make a man lay that money, uh, right in her hand
E B C#m F#7
And the very thing that makes her rich will make you poor
C#m G#7 C#m
The very thing that makes her rich will make you poor"
F#7
That's right!
[Verse 2]
C#m G#m7 C#m
Well, I put you behind the wheel of a deuce and a quarter, yes I did
G#7
Had you living like a rich man's daughter, yes I did, I sure did
C#m
While you were living high on the hog
F#7
You had me down here scuffling like a dog
E B C#m F#7
Well, the very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
C#m G#7 C#m
The very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
[Solo]
[Verse 3]
C#m G#m7 C#m
Don't you never ever make such a bad mistake
G#7
You know I'd rather climb into bed with a rattlesnake
C#m F#7
Then to work hard every day bringing that woman all my pay
E B C#m
The very thing that makes you rich makes me poor,
F#7
Makes me so damn poor
E B C#m F#7
The thing that makes her rich makes me poor
E B
The very thing that makes you rich make me poor
E B C#m
Very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
F#7
Makes me so damned poor
C#m F#7
Money won't change it, no no...
