D A D These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie G D These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye A D These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old bones, I toss and roll G A D And it's all in where they scatter, tells you what the future holds D A D Oh, she lived up on the mountain eleven miles or so from town G D With a one-eyed cat named Wink, a billy goat and a blue tick hound A D Her graying hair was braided and wrapped around her head G A D And her dress was long and faded, and her home a rusty shed D A D In a little pouch of burlap tied with a piece of twine G D There were bones all shapes and sizes, gathered through the course of time A D She'd throw them out before you, she swore that she could see G A D The present, past and future, she could ready your desti- ny D A D Every- body knew about her, came to get their fortune read G D Concerning health and wealth and power, who to love and when to wed A D Well, I just like helpin' people, I'm just glad that I could help G A D Why, I know everybody's secrets, but I keep it to my- self [Chorus] D A D These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie G D These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye A/E A D These old bones, I shake and rattle, these old bones, I toss and roll G A D And it's all in where they scatter, tells you what the future holds D A D Some called her witchy woman, some said she was in- sane G D Some said she was a prophet, still everybody came A D Just because a body's different, well, that don't make 'em mad G A D Well, they've crucified a many for the special gifts they've had D A D I had often heard about her, dreamed a- bout her now and then G D For I, too, was clairvoyant, came a- bout when I was ten A D I was fascinated with her, and the things I'd heard a- bout G A D And I knew some day I'd meet her, and one day it came a- bout D A D Well, I know'd that you 'uz a'comin', I could feel it in my bones G D These old bones have also told me that I won't be here for long A D Did you know that you 'uz adopted, did you know you once't was mine? G A D But the county took you from me, said I wasn't right in mind D A D But I just know'd I had to see you 'fore these bones was laid to rest G D So I conjured up a message, it must'a worked, I guess A D This gift runs in the family, I know you also know G A D And I passed this gift on to you, these old bones, they're just for show [Chorus] D A D These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie G D These old bones will tell you surely how to live and when you'll die A D These old bones I shake and rattle, these old bones I toss and roll G A D And it's all in where they scatter tells you what the future holds D A D I held her hand while she was dyin' and with the funeral through G D I headed on back up the mountain for Billy, Wink and Blue A D And that little pouch of burlap with those bones so worn and old G A D She give me somethin' special, now every time I throw [Chorus] D A D These old bones will tell your story, these old bones will never lie G D These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye A/E A D These old bones I shake and rattle, these old bones I toss and roll G A D And it's all in how they scatter, tells you what the future holds (Ending chorus) D A D G A D These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones A D G D These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones D A D G A D These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones A D G D These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones D A D G A D These old bones, these old bones, these old bones, these old bones ---