Chords for New Lost City Ramblers - When First Unto This Country

_ _ [C] _ _ [Bb] _ _ [F] _ _
_ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _ [F] _ _
[Bb] _ _ _ [F] _ _ _ When first unto [C] this country [Bb] a [F] stranger I came, _ [Bb] I _ courted [C] a fair maiden, and [F] she was her name.
_ I courted her [C] for love, [Bb] and her love I [F] didn't obtain.
_ Do [Bb] you think I've [C] any reason or right to [F] complain?
_ I wrote to [C] see mine and say [Bb] I wrote both [F] day and _ night.
[Bb] I _ courted [C] dearest Nancy, my own heart's true [F] delight.
I _ _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
[F] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _ [G] _
_ [Bb] _ _ [F] _ _ _ _
wrote to [C] see mine and say I wrote both [F] day and night, [Bb] till I spot a [C] fine gray horse, both [F] plump looking and white.
_ The sheriff's men they'd followed [Bb] and overtaken [F] me.
[Bb] They _ _ [C] courted me away to the _ [F] penitentiary.
_ They opened [C] up the door [Bb] and then they [F] shoved me in.
_ [Bb] They cleared off [C] my head and they [F] shaved off my chin.
_ They _ [C] _ _ [Bb] _ _ _ [F] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [F] _ _ _ beat me and they banged [Bb] me and they fed me on [F] dry beans, [Bb] till I wished [C] to my own soul I'd never [F] been a thief.
_ With my hands in [C] my pocket [Bb] and the cap put on [F] so bold, _ with [Bb] my coat [C] of many colors like the [F] ache of the soul. _ _ _
_ _ [Bb] _ _ _ [F] _ _ _
_ [Bb] _ _ _ [C] _ _ [Bb] _ _
[F] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _