Intro:

        Ab7 [xx4114]

Verse 1:

         Db                     Gb          Db/Ab
        Down by the river that flows by the coalyards
         Db                       Gb            Ab
        Stand wooden houses with shutters torn down
          Db           Fm        Gb         Db/Ab
        There lives a girl everybody calls Patches
         Db                     Ab7        Db     A7
        Patches, my darling, of old Shantytown

[key change to D]

Verse 2:

        D                         G                D/A
        We planned to marry when June brought the summer
        D                         G          A
        I couldn't wait to make Patches my bride
         D          F#m           G       D/A
        Now I don't see how that ever can happen
        D                        A7            D
        My folks say no and my heart breaks inside

Chorus 1:

          D         A/G        A7    [the A/G is probably A mistake]
        Patches, oh what can I do
        G             D
        I swear I'll always love you
               G                               D          Bm
        But a girl from that place will just bring me disgrace
           D               A7          D    Bb7
        So my folks won't let me love you

        [key change to Eb]

Verse 3:

        Eb                     Ab           Eb/Bb
        Each night I cry as I think of that shanty
        Eb                         Ab          Bb
        And pretty Patches there watching the door
        Eb           Gm          Ab          Eb/Bb
        She doesn't know that I can't come to see her
         Eb                        Bb7         Eb    B7
        Patches must think that I love her no more

        [key change to E]

Verse 4:

        E                  A          E/B
        I hear a neighbor telling my father
        E                       A            B
        He says a girl name of Patches was found
         E            G#m           A         E/B
        Floating face down in that dirty old river
               E                       B7         E
        That flows by the coalyards in old Shantytown

Chorus 2:

          E          B
        Patches, oh what can I do
        A             E
        I swear I'll always love you
            A                         E          C#m
        It may not be right but I'll join you tonight
          E [N.C.]
        Patches, I'm comin' to you