Seen the arrow on the door post
Saying, ''This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem.''
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell.

Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees were his only audience.
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell.

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming (and) see the ghosts of slavery ships.
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell.

There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squire--bootlegged whiskey in his hand.
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell.

Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what's his
But power and greed and corruptible seed seem to be all that there is.
I'm gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell.