[Intro]
Dm
[Verse]
Dm
I was sittin in The Thirsty Devil, one sheet hung to the wind
C G
When the bat wings doors creaked open and a stranger sauntered in
Dm
He moved his head from side to side and glared with a sunken eye
C Dm
I heard the spin of a rusty spur as he shook off the dreary night
[Verse]
Dm
He lowered his hat, checked his gun and headed toward the bar
C G
He walked on up beside me, I knew he’d traveled far
Dm
In a voice as thick as mud he looked to the ‘keep and said…
C Dm
“One shot of whiskey for myself and one for my new friend”
[Verse]
Dm
The patrons whispered hushed and low, they seemed to be afraid
C G
As if a ghost had stood right up and walked out of its grave
Dm
His face was shallow and dirty, his skin like leather hide
C G
Sure he spoke like any man, but something wasn’t right
Dm
So I twisted on my stool, turned to him and said
C G
“Thank you sir, but just the same, I’m chasin worms instead”
Dm
He growled and shoved the drink my way, his eyes cold as death
C Dm
“I pick the drinks, you knock ‘em back, else draw against my hand”
[Chorus]
C G Dm
When it’s six to midnight and the boney hand of death is nigh
C G Dm
You better drink your drink and shut your mouth
C G Dm
If you draw against his hand, you can never win
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
[Verse]
Dm
“Who the hell do you think you are?” my patience growin thin
C G
Cut swallow hard, I had to do, when the story he began
Dm
His lips curled back and words came forth starting up the tale
C G
And every face inside that bar, it turned a shade of pale
Dm
“My name is Stanton Cree and I died three years before
C G
I shot a man to steal his drink, at least that’s what they hung me for
Dm
Now I’m cursed to walk the earth and challenge every night
C Dm
A man to match me drink for drink or by the bullet die”
[Chorus]
C G Dm
When it’s six to midnight and the boney hand of death is nigh
C G Dm
You better drink your drink and shut your mouth
C G Dm
If you draw against his hand, you can never win
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
[Verse]
Dm
“Now wait a minute, mister, no one makes me a fool”
C G
I pushed the shot of whiskey back on over towards the ghoul
Dm
“I love a drink like any man but that’s a losin game
C G
To drink or draw against the dead would only be insane”
Dm
Stanton Cree, he tipped his hat and laughed a wicked laugh
C G
“You see, the lord cursed my soul for killin that poor man
Dm
There ain’t no choice so you must try to match me shot for shot
C Dm
If you win, then you’ll go free and I can finally rot”
[Chorus]
C G Dm
When it’s six to midnight and the boney hand of death is nigh
C G Dm
You better drink your drink and shut your mouth
C G Dm
If you draw against his hand, you can never win
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
[Instrumental]
A B C E
E F E F
[Bridge]
E
The barhop nodded slowly and I knew that I was screwed
F
If I chose to duel the dead then I would surely lose
E
So I took the glass and threw the shot into my throat
F E A
I would match him drink for drink, no matter if I choked
[Verse]
Dm
Whiskey, tequila, vodka, rum or gin
C G
There ain’t no man that I can’t beat, be him live or dead
Dm
So into the morning I matched him ounce for ounce
C G
Til Stanton Cree fell over and a winner was announced
Dm
Now he rests in his pine box and I still walk the streets
C G
But I don’t forget the night when death had chosen me
Dm
There ain’t no fancy moral to go with this I fear
C Dm
Unless you aim to kill a man and drink down his last beer!
[Chorus]
C G Dm
When it’s six to midnight and the boney hand of death is nigh
C G Dm
You better drink your drink and shut your mouth
C G Dm
If you draw against his hand, you can never win
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
A Am Dm
Go ahead… drink with the living dead
