Cross-Eyed Child
John Hartford
Good Ol Boys
Chords tabbed by:  Verne Garrison
November 23, 2008
Banjo tuned E Key D, Capo 2

Cross-Eyed Child


       D          G           D
The cross-eyed child, is left alone,
                                G 
        alone with his lonesome eyes,
                           D
While older brothers ride away
                                 A 
        in boots and clothes so fine.
        D                G           D
He walks the hills, and the railroad track,
                               G 
        singing in a voice so high,
                                    D
A voice so wild, it will freeze your heart,
                              A           D    
        like the heart of the cross-eyed child.

               G              D
Behind the house, behind the barn,
                              G 
        behind the white oak tree,(lick)
                         D
Underneath the old back porch,
                             A 
        where he may not be seen,
      D               G         D
He hides that they, not laugh at him
                           G
         as they go riding by,
                                 D
And know the tears, that feed the pain
                              A         D 
        in the heart of the cross-eyed child.

              G           D
Back inside, the darkness there
                            G 
       he hears the fiddle tune.
    D          G                  D         
She takes his hand, and pulls him out
                                A 
        and leads him into the room.
      D            G             D
Where brothers drink, and uncles play
                              G 
        and sisters dance in style.
                                D
No drop to stain his determined lips,
                          A        D 
        the vow of the cross-eyed child.

He wills himself to persevere 
        as strong he upward grows.
They come to match him, fist and note, 
        then on their way they go.
He does what he does the best he can, 
        some say it is his style,
But they can't see old Kentucky 
        in the heart of the cross-eyed child.

Instrumental:

Still proving himself to people gone, 
        his pride must have its way.
They're long since down in the churchyard ground 
        on the hill so far away.
He sings his song to the midnight sky, 
        a wail on the radio dial,
And around the world they hear the blues 
        in the heart of the cross-eyed child.
      D           G            D
And no one grins, we all chime in 
             G                      D
        to pick with the cross-eyed child.

John Hartford