Chords for Ray Stevens & Big Ed Johnson, A Smoker's Letter to the President 1997
Tempo:
67.75 bpm
Chords used:
Ab
G
Eb
Db
C
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[Bb] [E] [Gm]
[E]
[Ebm] Rottweiler J.
Spitzer here with all the news across the nation here at the annual convention
of the Cigarette [Eb] Club of America.
Club president Mr.
[N] Big Ed Johnson has called a special press conference.
Here's Mr.
Johnson now.
Let's see what he has to say.
[Eb] I've just got one thing to say.
I'm sick and tired of seeing our fellow smokers standing outside these office buildings.
So I wrote a letter to the president.
[A] Right here.
I'll read it to you.
1600 Pennsylvania [G] Avenue, Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr.
President, I am a [C] smoker.
I'm writing you in regards to your [G] health plan.
I understand you're going to raise taxes on cigarettes.
[B] Mr.
President, you may not know [Em] that us [G] smokers are [Am] doing a great service for [D] our country.
[G] For one thing, we won't live long.
So we won't be drawing Social Security and other government benefits.
[C] There will be less people on the crowded highways that will [G] save millions in highway maintenance alone.
You must consider all [B] the people we put to work.
[Em] The [G] coffin makers, [Am] shovel manufacturers, [D] florists, [G] oxygen tank distributors, and the people that
make suits with no backs in them.
So [C] you see, Mr.
President, [Db] us smokers [G] should be [D] applauded, [G] not looked down [D] on.
[G] Raising taxes on [B] cigarettes is going [Em] to do more [D] harm than [C] good.
[G] [Am] Sure we'll take up a few hospital beds, [D] but it'll [G] only be for a short time.
[Eb]
[Ab] [Db] It's the [Ab] non-smoker that should be taxed.
They have to have a special place to sit in restaurants.
[Db] They make us feel socially unacceptable and [Ab] uncomfortable.
If nothing else, they should be taxed for [C] us having to listen to them tell [Fm] how they [Ab] stop smoking.
[Db] [Eb] And the non-smoker [Ab] policy on airlines could be a danger to our safety.
Don't you know, if a person wants to smoke bad enough, heck, he'd [Db] hijack a plane for a cigarette.
[Ab] Tax jogging shoes and vitamin pills, not cigarettes.
It's the health [C] nut that's ruining our country, [Fm] not the [Ab] smoker.
[Db] Healthy people commit more crimes.
[Eb] A healthy man [Ab] can run faster and get away.
A smoker can't run.
I read the other day that you're planning on taxing liquor.
Some [Db] people only smoke [Ab] when they drink.
And you speak [Eb] of human [Ab] rights?
[Eb] [Ab] I know what you're [C] thinking.
Only half [Fm] of us are going to [Eb] be around to [Db] vote the next [Ab] election anyway.
[Bbm] [Eb] Us [Ab] smokers know what [Fm] the bottom line is for us.
[Bbm] We just don't give a darn.
So Mr.
[Ab] President, please [Eb] let us smoke without the [E] burden of a cigarette tax.
[Gb] [Ab] Yours truly, Ed Johnson.
[Abm] Anybody got a light?
Oh, me.
[N]
[E]
[Ebm] Rottweiler J.
Spitzer here with all the news across the nation here at the annual convention
of the Cigarette [Eb] Club of America.
Club president Mr.
[N] Big Ed Johnson has called a special press conference.
Here's Mr.
Johnson now.
Let's see what he has to say.
[Eb] I've just got one thing to say.
I'm sick and tired of seeing our fellow smokers standing outside these office buildings.
So I wrote a letter to the president.
[A] Right here.
I'll read it to you.
1600 Pennsylvania [G] Avenue, Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr.
President, I am a [C] smoker.
I'm writing you in regards to your [G] health plan.
I understand you're going to raise taxes on cigarettes.
[B] Mr.
President, you may not know [Em] that us [G] smokers are [Am] doing a great service for [D] our country.
[G] For one thing, we won't live long.
So we won't be drawing Social Security and other government benefits.
[C] There will be less people on the crowded highways that will [G] save millions in highway maintenance alone.
You must consider all [B] the people we put to work.
[Em] The [G] coffin makers, [Am] shovel manufacturers, [D] florists, [G] oxygen tank distributors, and the people that
make suits with no backs in them.
So [C] you see, Mr.
President, [Db] us smokers [G] should be [D] applauded, [G] not looked down [D] on.
[G] Raising taxes on [B] cigarettes is going [Em] to do more [D] harm than [C] good.
[G] [Am] Sure we'll take up a few hospital beds, [D] but it'll [G] only be for a short time.
[Eb]
[Ab] [Db] It's the [Ab] non-smoker that should be taxed.
They have to have a special place to sit in restaurants.
[Db] They make us feel socially unacceptable and [Ab] uncomfortable.
If nothing else, they should be taxed for [C] us having to listen to them tell [Fm] how they [Ab] stop smoking.
[Db] [Eb] And the non-smoker [Ab] policy on airlines could be a danger to our safety.
Don't you know, if a person wants to smoke bad enough, heck, he'd [Db] hijack a plane for a cigarette.
[Ab] Tax jogging shoes and vitamin pills, not cigarettes.
It's the health [C] nut that's ruining our country, [Fm] not the [Ab] smoker.
[Db] Healthy people commit more crimes.
[Eb] A healthy man [Ab] can run faster and get away.
A smoker can't run.
I read the other day that you're planning on taxing liquor.
Some [Db] people only smoke [Ab] when they drink.
And you speak [Eb] of human [Ab] rights?
[Eb] [Ab] I know what you're [C] thinking.
Only half [Fm] of us are going to [Eb] be around to [Db] vote the next [Ab] election anyway.
[Bbm] [Eb] Us [Ab] smokers know what [Fm] the bottom line is for us.
[Bbm] We just don't give a darn.
So Mr.
[Ab] President, please [Eb] let us smoke without the [E] burden of a cigarette tax.
[Gb] [Ab] Yours truly, Ed Johnson.
[Abm] Anybody got a light?
Oh, me.
[N]
Key:
Ab
G
Eb
Db
C
Ab
G
Eb
[Bb] _ _ _ _ _ [E] _ _ [Gm] _
_ _ _ [E] _ _ _ _ _
[Ebm] Rottweiler J.
Spitzer here with all the news across the nation here at the annual convention
of the Cigarette [Eb] Club of America.
Club president Mr.
[N] Big Ed Johnson has called a special press conference.
Here's Mr.
Johnson now.
Let's see what he has to say.
_ _ _ [Eb] I've just got one thing to say.
_ _ _ _ I'm sick and tired of seeing our fellow smokers standing outside these office buildings.
So I wrote a letter to the president.
[A] Right here.
I'll read it to you.
_ 1600 Pennsylvania [G] Avenue, Washington, D.C.
_ Dear Mr.
President, I am a [C] smoker.
I'm writing you in regards to your [G] health plan.
I understand you're going to raise taxes on cigarettes.
[B] Mr.
President, you may not know [Em] that us [G] smokers are [Am] doing a great service for [D] our country.
[G] For one thing, we won't live long.
So we won't be drawing Social Security and other government benefits. _
[C] There will be less people on the crowded highways that will [G] save millions in highway maintenance alone.
_ You must consider all [B] the people we put to work.
[Em] The [G] coffin makers, [Am] shovel manufacturers, [D] florists, [G] oxygen tank distributors, and the people that
make suits with no backs in them. _ _
So [C] you see, Mr.
President, [Db] us smokers [G] should be [D] applauded, [G] not looked down [D] on.
[G] Raising taxes on [B] cigarettes is going [Em] to do more [D] harm than [C] good.
[G] [Am] Sure we'll take up a few hospital beds, [D] but it'll [G] only be for a short time.
[Eb] _
_ [Ab] [Db] It's the [Ab] non-smoker that should be taxed.
They have to have a special place to sit in restaurants.
[Db] They make us feel socially unacceptable and [Ab] uncomfortable. _
If nothing else, they should be taxed for [C] us having to listen to them tell [Fm] how they [Ab] stop smoking.
[Db] _ [Eb] And the non-smoker [Ab] policy on airlines could be a danger to our safety.
Don't you know, if a person wants to smoke bad enough, heck, he'd [Db] hijack a plane for a cigarette.
_ _ [Ab] _ Tax jogging shoes and vitamin pills, not cigarettes.
It's the health [C] nut that's ruining our country, [Fm] not the [Ab] smoker.
[Db] Healthy people commit more crimes.
[Eb] A healthy man [Ab] can run faster and get away.
A smoker can't run.
_ I read the other day that you're planning on taxing liquor.
Some [Db] people only smoke [Ab] when they drink.
And you speak [Eb] of human [Ab] rights?
[Eb] [Ab] I know what you're [C] thinking.
Only half [Fm] of us are going to [Eb] be around to [Db] vote the next [Ab] election anyway.
[Bbm] _ _ [Eb] Us [Ab] smokers know what [Fm] the bottom line is for us.
[Bbm] We just don't give a darn.
So Mr.
[Ab] President, please [Eb] let us smoke without the [E] burden of a cigarette tax.
[Gb] _ _ [Ab] Yours truly, Ed Johnson.
_ _ [Abm] Anybody got a light?
_ _ Oh, me. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _ _
_ _ _ [E] _ _ _ _ _
[Ebm] Rottweiler J.
Spitzer here with all the news across the nation here at the annual convention
of the Cigarette [Eb] Club of America.
Club president Mr.
[N] Big Ed Johnson has called a special press conference.
Here's Mr.
Johnson now.
Let's see what he has to say.
_ _ _ [Eb] I've just got one thing to say.
_ _ _ _ I'm sick and tired of seeing our fellow smokers standing outside these office buildings.
So I wrote a letter to the president.
[A] Right here.
I'll read it to you.
_ 1600 Pennsylvania [G] Avenue, Washington, D.C.
_ Dear Mr.
President, I am a [C] smoker.
I'm writing you in regards to your [G] health plan.
I understand you're going to raise taxes on cigarettes.
[B] Mr.
President, you may not know [Em] that us [G] smokers are [Am] doing a great service for [D] our country.
[G] For one thing, we won't live long.
So we won't be drawing Social Security and other government benefits. _
[C] There will be less people on the crowded highways that will [G] save millions in highway maintenance alone.
_ You must consider all [B] the people we put to work.
[Em] The [G] coffin makers, [Am] shovel manufacturers, [D] florists, [G] oxygen tank distributors, and the people that
make suits with no backs in them. _ _
So [C] you see, Mr.
President, [Db] us smokers [G] should be [D] applauded, [G] not looked down [D] on.
[G] Raising taxes on [B] cigarettes is going [Em] to do more [D] harm than [C] good.
[G] [Am] Sure we'll take up a few hospital beds, [D] but it'll [G] only be for a short time.
[Eb] _
_ [Ab] [Db] It's the [Ab] non-smoker that should be taxed.
They have to have a special place to sit in restaurants.
[Db] They make us feel socially unacceptable and [Ab] uncomfortable. _
If nothing else, they should be taxed for [C] us having to listen to them tell [Fm] how they [Ab] stop smoking.
[Db] _ [Eb] And the non-smoker [Ab] policy on airlines could be a danger to our safety.
Don't you know, if a person wants to smoke bad enough, heck, he'd [Db] hijack a plane for a cigarette.
_ _ [Ab] _ Tax jogging shoes and vitamin pills, not cigarettes.
It's the health [C] nut that's ruining our country, [Fm] not the [Ab] smoker.
[Db] Healthy people commit more crimes.
[Eb] A healthy man [Ab] can run faster and get away.
A smoker can't run.
_ I read the other day that you're planning on taxing liquor.
Some [Db] people only smoke [Ab] when they drink.
And you speak [Eb] of human [Ab] rights?
[Eb] [Ab] I know what you're [C] thinking.
Only half [Fm] of us are going to [Eb] be around to [Db] vote the next [Ab] election anyway.
[Bbm] _ _ [Eb] Us [Ab] smokers know what [Fm] the bottom line is for us.
[Bbm] We just don't give a darn.
So Mr.
[Ab] President, please [Eb] let us smoke without the [E] burden of a cigarette tax.
[Gb] _ _ [Ab] Yours truly, Ed Johnson.
_ _ [Abm] Anybody got a light?
_ _ Oh, me. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _ _