Joe Peel Chords

[Verse 1]
G                             D
Workington way when lads left school
C                              G
'twas just the pit and foundry beckon
G                              D
Young Joe went down to hew the coal
C                              G
but not for long so some folks reckoned
G                             D         C
for Joe could tackle hard and Joe could run
C                       G
he only needed time for growin'
G                              D
and soon he'd sign his name to play
C               D      G
and to the city moved away
 
[Verse 2]
G                            D
Now on the sports page, he'd appear
C                     G
The idol of the local lassies
G                              D
Out on the field, he played it fair
C                                G
while all the girls made forward passes
G                          D        C
Until another match turned people's heads
C                     G
Jarrow lads v. ruling classes
G                        D
and with no future in it now
     C              D      G
it's home again and up the brow
 
[Verse 3]
G                           D
Back underground to hear no lark
    C                           G
For thirty years from dawn till evening
G                           D
until the coal had left its mark
C                            G
and to the bank, the earth returned him
G                             D      C
no more to sweat his days out in the dark
C                               G
some years on top, the dust had earned him
G                              D
and all the while his sickness grew,
           C                 D      G
still he'd ask what he could do for you.
 
[Verse 4]
G                            D
He'd do odd-jobs for one and all
C                                 G
though snow was thick or rain was teemin'
G                               D
and all the world would seem to call
C                         G
the kettle never finished steamin'
G                                    D       C
"Reach Up!" he'd say "By God, you're looking thin",
C                              G
while mischief in his eyes was gleamin'
G                              D
If Lizzie thinks you're hungry still
           C           D      G
they'll be nowt for us in her will
 
[Verse 5]
G                            D
The day you left I stayed outside
     C                         G
with scaldin' tears no comfort knowin'
G                           D
we all turned up to say goodbye
    C                        G
the church was filled to overflowin'
G                             D        C
you'd never have believed it, if you'd seen
C                           G
how many people mourned you goin'
G                             D
and just how lucky folk still feel
   C             D   G
to say they knew Joe Peel
 
[Outro]
G                             D        C
you'd never have believed it, if you'd seen
C                           G
how many people mourned you goin'
G                             D
and just how lucky folk still feel
   C             D   G
to say they knew Joe Peel