Drifters Escape

Bob Dylan

RockEasy for beginners2 chords

How to play it

Fingering diagrams for the shapes in this song. × = don't play, ○ = open string.

Chords & lyrics

Chord names sit directly above the word where you change.

 
Capo on 2nd fret
              
 
 
     G                       
"Oh, help me in my weakness," 
            C       G      
I heard the drifter say, 
        G               
as they carried him from the courtroom 
                C    G      
And were taking him away. 
    G 
"My trip hasn't been a pleasant one 
               C     G       
and my time it isn't long, 
           
and I still do not know 
                 C         G 
What it was that I've done wrong." 
 
      G  
Well, the judge, he cast his robe aside, 
            C      G 
a tear came to his eye, 
     G 
"You fail to understand," he said, 
              C    G 
"Why must you even try?" 
   G 
Outside, the crowd was stirring, 
                  C        G 
You could hear it from the door. 
 
Inside, the judge was stepping down, 
               C         G 
While the jury cried for more. 
 
     G 
"Oh, stop that cursed jury," 
             C              G 
Cried the attendant and the nurse, 
     G 
"The trial was bad enough, 
            C         G 
But this is ten times worse." 
     G 
Just then a bolt of lightning 
                      C      G 
Struck the courthouse out of shape, 
 
and while ev'rybody knelt to pray 
            C    G     
The drifter did escape.

Details

Rating

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Chord set

G · C

Practice tip

Loop the first two chords slowly until the change is clean, then add the rest.