Willie The King
                   ---------------
                   by Al Stewart
         
         
              Am    G Am
         
         
              Am      G
              Old man Bodey
              F                G
              Sits on his own by the side of the bar
              Am       G
              Drinking slowly
              F                  G
              Resting the boots that he's carried so far
              Am      D
              Once was a gambler
              Am        F
              5-card poker rambler
                       C        Am        F        D    C  D
              That the wise men knew as a slippery deal
                                             Am 
              And the kids called Willie the King
         
                  G Am Em G
              Am  G Am Em G
         
              Am      G
              See behind me
              F                G
              Fog's coming up on the river tonight
              Am        G
              Just reminds me
              F              G
              Of smoke curling up in the yellowy light
              Am             D
              There's money on the table
              Am        F
              Took what I was able
                  C        Am            F         D      C D
              And spent my nights with a riverboat queen
                                           Am 
              And she called me Willie the King
         
         
                  G Am Em G
              Am  G Am Em G
         
         
              Am                D
              Well I don't mind saying
                   C                F
              I've done my share of paying
              D            Am
              I've been so broken
              C                            Em
              Sometimes it seemed that I'd never get back
         
         
              Am G F G Am G F G
         
              Am             D
              Watching their faces 
              Am                 F
              I was turning over aces
                          C       Am            F         D    C  D
              Though they knew my name when the money was gone
                                        Am 
              They called me Willie the King
         
         
                  G Am Em G
              Am  G Am Em G
         
         
              Am                D
              Well I don't mind staying
              C                 F
              Up all night just waiting
              D          Am
              Choosing a moment
                 C                         Em
              To play that card that could never be beat
         
         
         
              Am      G 
              Old man Bodey
              F                  G
              He's still growing roots by the side of the bar
              Am       G
              Drinking slowly
              F                       G
              Resting his gaze on the cinnamon jar
              Am            D
              He once was a gambler
              Am           F
              5-card poker rambler
                       C        Am        F        D     C  D
              That the wise men knew as a slippery deal
                                             Am 
              And the kids called Willie the King
         
                  G Am Em G 
              Am  G Am Em G
              Am  G Am Em G
              Am  G Am Em G
         
              Am G F G 
         
         
         
         The tab for the bass line that follows the words "Willie the king"
         
         
           Am              G  Am Em     G      
         ----------------------------------------------------------------
         ----------------------------------------------------------------
         ------------------0--2------------------------------------------
         -----------0--2---------2--0------------------------------------
         --0--2--3----------------------3--0-----------------------------
         --------------------------------------3--0--3-------------------
         
         
         I am currently of the opinion that the ascending bass line is
         more or less played over an Am chord.
         If anybody has any other opinions let me know.
         
Notation:    Ray Hewitt
             R.A.Hewitt@man1301.wins.icl.co.uk