Seen the arrow on the doorpost Saying, "This land is condemned All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem" Well, I travel through east Texas Where many martyrs fell And I dont know one that can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell ♪ I heard that hoo-dove singing As they were taking down the tent The stars above the barren trees Was his only audience Them charcoal gypsy maidens Can strut their feathers well But nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell ♪ Seen them big plantations burning Hear the cracking of the whips Smell that sweet magnolia blooming See the ghost of slavery ships I can hear them tribes a-moanin' Hear the undertakers bell And I don't know one who can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell ♪ There's a woman by the river With some fine young handsome man He's dressed up like a squier Bootlegged whiskey in his hand There's a chain gang on the highway I can hear them rebels yell And I know no one who can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell ♪ God is in his heaven And we are what was his But power and greed and corruptible seed Seem to be all that there is I'm gazing out the window Of that old St. James Hotel And I dont know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell