Intro {2X}: 
 
           E 
           v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v 
      --- | ---0-12*--------- | -----0----------- 
      11- | -12-------------- | 10-(b9)--------(11) 
      --- | ----------------- | ----------------- 
      --- | ----------------- | ----------------- 
      --- | ----------------- | ----------------- 
      --- | ----------------- | ----------------- 
                * 12th-fret harmonic 
 
Verse 1: 
 
       E 
      Billy Ray was a preacher's son 
                    A                      E 
      And when his daddy would visit he'd come along 

      When they'd gather 'round and started talking 
      B7 
      That's when Billy would take me walking 

      A-through the back yard we'd go walking 

      Then he'd look into my eyes 

      Lord knows to my surprise 

 
           E 
      The only one who could ever reach me 
      A                   E 
        Was the son of a preacher man 
           E 
      The only boy who could ever teach me 
      A                    E 
        Was the son of a preacher man 
                      B    A  
      Yes he was, he was,     mmm , yes he was  
 
      {1: repeat intro (1X)  2: to bridge} 
 
Verse 2 {one line shorter than verse 1}: 
 
      Being good isn't always easy 

      No matter how hard I'd try 

      When he started sweet-talkin' to me 

      He'd come and tell me everything is all right 

      He'd kiss and tell me everything is all right 

      Can I get away again tonight 
 
{repeat Chorus} 
 
Bridge: 
                D 
      (Yes, he was) 
 
      How well I remember 
      A 
        The look was in his eyes 

      Stealin' kisses from me on the sly 
      B7 
         Takin' time to make time 

      Tellin' me that he's all mine 
      E7 
         Learnin' from each other's knowin' 

      Look at us here, how much we've grown 
 
Chorus {in 
A }: 
 
               A 
      And the only one who could ever reach me 
      D                    A 
        Was the son of a preacher man 
           A 
      The only boy who could ever teach me 
      D                    A 
        Was the son of a preacher man 
                      E   D7 
      Yes he was, he was, ooh yes he was 
 
Coda: 
            A 
      (The only one who could ever reach me 
                     D                      A 
                         Was the son of a preacher man) 
        He was the sweet-talking son of a preacher man) 
 
      (The only boy who could ever teach me 
                         Was the son of a preacher man) 
                 A kiss-stealin' son of a preacher man 
 
      (The only one who could ever move me 
       Was the son of a preacher man) 
 
      (The only one who could ever groove me 
       Was the son of a preacher man)            {fade}