BLACK ROSE
(Billy Joe Shaver)


Billy Joe Shaver - 1973





Way down in Virginia
Amongst the tall grown sugar cane
Lived a simple man and a dominique hen
And a rose of a different name

Well the first time I felt lightnin'
I was standin' in the drizzlin' rain
With a tremblin' hand and a bottle of gin
And a rose of a different name

Yeah, the Devil made me do it the first time
The second time I done it on my own
Lord, put a handle on this simple headed man
And help me leave that black rose alone

(Harmonica Solo)

When the Devil made that woman
Lord, he threw the pattern away
She was built for speed with the tools you need
To make a new fool every day

And way down deep and dirty
On the darkest side of shame
You'll find this cane-cuttin' man a-doin' it again
With that rose of a different name

The Devil made me do it the first time
The second time I done it on my own
Lord, put a handle on this simple headed man
And help me leave that black rose alone

Yeah, the Devil made me do it the first time
The second time I done it on my own
Lord, put a handle on this simple headed man
And help me leave that black rose alone






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2012)