Whenever Kindness Fails Lyrics - Ely Joe

(Robert Earl Keen, Jr.) 

Capo 3rd Frat ! 

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)