Whenever Kindness Fails
Robert Earl Keen

Capo 3rd Fret 
Intro:  D Bm D Bm
 
Verse 1:
 
D                       Bm
Crossed the desert in a dining car
D                  Bm
In the spring of '91
D                        Bm
Met some people drinkin' at the bar,
A
They were laughin', havin' fun
 
Told 'em that I hadn't heard the joke
That was so hilarious
They said that I was just a dumb cowpoke
I didn't want to make a fuss
 
 
Chorus:
 
     G               A
So I shot them down, one by one
D                       G
And left them 'long the rails
       D
I only use my gun
     A            Bm
Whenever kindness fails
 
 
Verse 2:
 
Moon was in the sign of Scorpio
The sun was at my back
I didn't know how far the train would go
Till the law would find my track
 
Saw the brakeman and the engineer
Drinking wine and eating brie
I asked them who would brake and who would steer
They started pointing back at me
 
Chorus
 
Solo:  Repeat chords in chorus
 
Verse 3:
 
I only have a momment to explain
Just a chance to let you know
When it's time to board that train
There are 2 ways you can go.
 
You can ride the wind into the sun
Feel a cool wind on your face
Or you can laugh into a loaded gun
And you'll likely lose your place
 
Chorus:
Yeah I shot them down, one by one
And left them 'long the rails
I only use my gun
Whenever kindness fails
 
I shot them down, one by one
And left them 'long the rails
When I use my gun
That lonesome whistle wails
 
Outro:  D  Bm (repeat)