The Baron Chords by Johnny Cash

I wish I had known you when you were a little younger.
Around me you might have learned a thing or two. _
_ If I had known you longer, [F] you might be a little [C] stronger.
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you [G] do.
_ _ _ [F] Maybe [C] you'd shoot straighter than you do.
_ _ _ [A] As he walked into [Am] the pool room, [D] you could tell he didn't fit.
In his [C] handmade boots, custom [E] suit, pearl-handled shooting stick.
[Am] Tonight there'd be a showdown.
[D] Then everyone would know who shoots the meanest game around, [G] the Baron or Billy Joe.
_ _ [Am] Billy Joe looked edgy, [D] about to lose his cool.
But [C] the Baron's hands were steady as [Bm] the two began to [E] duel.
[Am] Yeah, he was like a general [D] on a battlefield of slate.
[C] And he would say to Billy Joe, [E] each time he sunk the [Am] eight, he'd [G] say_
[C] I wish I had known you [F] when you were a little [C]
younger.
[Am] Around me you might have learned a thing [C] or two. _
If I had known you longer, [F] you might be a little [C]
stronger.
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do.
[A] _
_ [F] Maybe [G] you'd shoot straighter [C] than you do. _
_ [Am] Now Billy Joe was busted, [D] but he hadn't felt the sting.
[C] And from the far end of the table, he [E] threw his mother's wedding ring.
[Am] And he said, you won my money, [D] but it ain't gonna do the trick.
[C] I'll bet this ring on one more [G] game against your [C] fancy stick.
_ _ [A] The Baron's [Am] eyes got foggy [D] as the ring rolled on the felt.
[C] And he almost doubled over like [E] he was hit below the belt.
_ [Am] Twenty years ago, it [D] was the ring his wife had worn.
[C] And he didn't know before he left [G] that a son would soon [C] be born.
_ _ _ [A#] It sounded just like [D#] thunder when the Baron shot the break.
[C#] But it grew quickly quiet [F] as he lined up the eight.
[A#m] Then a warm hand touched his shoulder [D#] and it chilled him to the bone.
[C#] When he turned and saw the [G#] woman who had loved [C#] him for so long.
_ _ [A#m] The game was never finished.
[D#] The eight ball never fell.
[C#] The Baron calmly picked it up [F] and put it on the shelf.
[A#m] Then he placed the ring in the hands [D#] that held him long ago.
[C#] And he tossed that fancy shooting stick [F] to his son, Billy [A#m] Joe.
And [G#] he said, [C#] wish I had known you [F#] when you were a little [C#] younger.
[A#m] Around me you might have learned a thing [C#] or two. _ _
I had known you longer.
[F#] You might be a little [C#] stronger.
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do.
_ [A#m] _
_ [F#] _ Maybe [C#] you'd shoot straighter [G#]
than [C#] you do.
_ _ _ _ _ [N] _