D G D
The dirt was clay and was the color of the blood in me
D G A
A twelve acre farm on a ridge in south Tennessee
Bm A G D
We left that sweat all over that land behind a mule we watched grow old row after row
D G A G D
Trying to grow corn and cotton on ground so poor that grass won’t grow
D G D
There was one old store in the hollow we all called town
D G A
It belonged to a gentle old man named Henry Brown
Bm A G Bm
He gave us credit in the wintertime so we could live through the cold when the wind brought snow
D G Em A G D
Trying to grow corn and cotton on ground so poor that grass won’t grow
Solo
Key Change:
D# G# D#
The one I loved walked through those fields with me
D# G# A#
She was a hard working woman true as one could be
Bm A# G# D#
But then one year death was going ‘round and swiftly took it’s toll, Janie had to go
D# G# A# G# D#
Now she lies asleep under ground so poor that grass won’t grow
Key Change:
E A E
As I stand here looking over this part of Tennessee
E A B7
The fields are bare as far as the eye can see
C#m E A E
And over the grave where Janie lies there’s a beautiful sight to behold And no one knows
E A B7 A D
Why there’s flowers growing on ground so poor that grass won’t grow