Em (022000@1)                                CWhen (x32010@1)I was just a young boy, on the okalhoma plains
Em (022000@1)                                       C (x32010@1)          
I tried to keep my shoes shined, tried to keep a clean name
G (320003@1)      F (133211@1)           CWay (x32010@1)over town, lived a boy named Eugene Pratt
    Em (022000@1)                  D (xx0232@1)              CAnd (x32010@1)we weren't allowed to talk to him, say hi and none of that no no
Em (022000@1)                                  CI (x32010@1)went off to school, Eugene sat right in front of my desk
Em (022000@1)                                 CThe (x32010@1)kids they made fun of him, cause Gene was such a mess Lord
    G (320003@1)           F (133211@1)          CBut (x32010@1)oh, he worked hard, and he took home a mess of good grades
Em (022000@1)                                   D (xx0232@1)           CAnd (x32010@1)when it came time for him to go to big school, Eugene went far away
                 D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)                   CCause (x32010@1)that's the way it was, and that's the way it is
               D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1)                    CAnd (x32010@1)that's the way it was, and that's the way it is
Em (022000@1)                                CI (x32010@1)went off to college, got myself a job in the campus store
Em (022000@1)                                     CBut (x32010@1)in the meantime, Gene spent his time writin' bout the world and war
G (320003@1)             F (133211@1)          CI (x32010@1)didn't understand, all the things he was talkin about
      Em (022000@1)                         D (xx0232@1)             CSo (x32010@1)my friends and me from that old fraternity, got drunk and blocked it all out (Yes we did)

Em (022000@1)                               CAnd (x32010@1)then we graduated, lost our deference, our excuse.
Em (022000@1)                                    CAnd (x32010@1)the man said, come here boys, gonna put your education to a good use
G (320003@1)                F (133211@1)               CWent (x32010@1)down to the draft board, saw Eugene lookin' alive and well
Em (022000@1)                              D (xx0232@1)                  CBut (x32010@1)when it came time to put his name on the line, he told them boys to go to hell (Yes he did)

Em (022000@1)                                         CEugene (x32010@1)was by far the smartest, the most concerned with humanity
Em (022000@1)                                      CBut (x32010@1)it was him they took, far away, and stuck in a penitentiary lordy
G (320003@1)                F (133211@1)             CI (x32010@1)can't help but wonder, if we'd all stand up like him
Em (022000@1)                        D (xx0232@1)                                 CThen (x32010@1)there'd be no one to carry those damn guns for something nobody believes in

D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1)                    CBut (x32010@1)that ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is
                D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1)                   CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is
                D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1)                   CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is
                D (xx0232@1)    Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1)                   CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is