"The Armadillo Jackal"  by Robert Earl Keen
From: Moondog 96 

This song uses a capo on the 3rd fret and all the chords are listed as 
the 3rd fret being open.

Am                                 G
The evening sun was sinkin' down, a chill north wind a-blows

F                                                 E
The new-plowed ground was coolin' fast, the river rolls and flows

                Am                           G
Beneath the two-lane concrete river bridge between my place and town

        F                                E
On that hot-bed Farm to Market road they call 1291

            Am                                  G
I'm sayin' son you'll see me searchin'; sizzlin' down that broad hiway

F                                        E
Dollar signs in both my eyes, I'm seekin' out my prey.  I'm prayin'

 Am                           G
"Jesus, will you send me just another three or four?"

             F                                      E
They pay two-fifty down in Halletsville, 3 dollars, maybe more.

                  Am                          G
And more than likely they'll be out tonight a-wanderin' from the farms;

F                           E
Waddlin' down 1291 to keep their bodies warm.  

                Am                           G
I'm talking walkin' belts and neckties, and boots for rodeo;

            F                                             E
They don't run too fast, don't waste much gas.  I'm makin' lots o'dough.

          Am     C    G   D            Am     C    G   D
The armadillo....o....o...o  The armadillo....o....o...o  The armadillo

(after this use the same chord progression as the first verse)

Never sees me when I hit him with my brights.  His life don't flash 
Before his eyes, he's blinded by my lights and so I hit him with my 
Bumper doin' sixty, sixty-five; they take 'em frozen down in Halletsville
They don't take 'em alive.  The jackal cri....i....i...ied  
The jackal cri....i....i...ied  The jackal cried, "Look there's two of
Them a-walkin' down the line.  I can't believe my luck tonight this here
Makes twenty-nine!"  And so he rolled the first one runnin'.  The second
Was too fast.  His breaks and laughter squealin' as he stomped down on the
Gas.  Good-God, his car was sideways flyin', when the bridge wall met his
Door.  The impact shook the river bed his foot went through the floor
Forevermore....or....or...ore  Forevermore....or....or....ore
Forevermore was his last moment from the bridge wall to the stream; from
The speckled blood around his smile a-spewin' gasoline.  And then he 
Screamed his raspy epitaph, before he turned to flame: "They pay two-fifty
down in Halletsville.... I ain't the one to blame....."
Ain't it a sha....a....a...ame  The jackal cri....i....i...ied
The armadillo....o....o...o  The armadillo....o....o...o
(repeat until fade)

submitted by wildstar@ix.netcom.com
Show more