Intro: A : D : A : D : A : E : A 
 
A 
Ridin' through the night, on the Danville pike, 
D                                 A 
Gotta be there by the break of daylight. 
                           D 
Twenty five miles is all I like, 
    A          E        A 
I'm ridin' the Danville pike. 
 
Dobro solo: 
A : D : A : D : A : E : A 
  
A 
He was the fastest horse anyone had seen, 
   D                                 A 
he was a Sorrel pony he was tall and lean. 
                                             D 
He'd meet every challenge if they think they must, 
     A                              E        A 
he'd leave 'em breathin' heavy in a cloud of dust. 
 
It was just about dark on a Friday night, 
      D                                 A 
not a cloud in the sky and the moon was bright. 
                                                  D 
We were bound to do somethin' that had never been done, 
        A                             E         A 
Make it all the way to Danville on an overnight run. 
 
Banjo solo: 
A : D : A : D : A : E : A 
Mando solo: 
A : D : A : D : A : E : A 
 
A 
Big Jim Grayson was a man of means, 
   D                                A 
he had more money than a poor boy's dreams. 
                                                     D 
He said here's five hundred dollars cause I know I'm right, 
       A                          E       A 
you'll never make Danville by the mornin' light. 
 
Well the watch from my pocket say's it's half past four. 
D                                A 
Give up the rein and he begs for more. 
                                       D 
With a whole lot of heart and a little luck, 
         A                               E         A 
We'll be drinking from the Dan' when the sun comes up. 
 
Intro repeat: 
A : D : A : D : A : E : A 
 
A 
Ridin' through the night, on the Danville pike, 
D                                 A 
Gotta be there by the break of daylight. 
                           D 
Twenty five miles is all I like, 
    A          E        A 
I'm ridin' the Danville pike. 
 
Outro: 
A : D : A : E : A