Chords for Johnny Paycheck Chillicothe Prison Interview

[Bb] _ _ _ _ _ [A] _ _ _
[Am] _ [A] _ _ _ [D] I'm [C] sitting in [D] this slammer, _ looking [Em] out [D] through these [G]
[A] bars in a haze.
_ _ Johnny [D] Paycheck, one of the outlaws of country music, is now singing the blues behind [E] [C] bars.
_ [G] You've been here a while, you're a [B] ghost.
[Bm] _ [C] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [D] Chillicothe, _ _ got a hold [G] on me. _ _
_ _ _ _ Ohio's Chillicothe Prison got a hold of Paycheck [Em] after he was convicted of [C] shooting a man in the head during a barroom brawl in [D] Hillsborough, Ohio.
The defiant [C] Paycheck on stage was [G] singing a different tune when he asked the judge for mercy at his sentencing.
It would mean so much to me, the longer I can work and send support in my life's [N] life,
that would be the only reason that I would ask for you to have mercy on me and wait for a while,
as long as that can get me to work, that's all I want, and it's for her and my family.
Paycheck told the judge his wife was dying of cancer and he needed to keep working to pay medical bills.
Despite his plea for mercy, he was sentenced to serve at least seven and a half years in prison.
_ Johnny Paycheck's music used to play in jukeboxes all over the country, including in this very bar where he fired that near fatal [B] shot.
He's hoping by cutting the album in prison, he can not only help keep his wife alive, but also give new life to his career that is all but died.
_ _ [N] _ _ _ _
Both Johnny's wife and his career look to be on the road to recovery at the Chillicothe concert.
The reason for the concert was _ _ to _ maintain _ _ _ a_
I don't want to_
even though I'm off the scene, I don't want to be off the scene.
I want to keep making sure_
to ensure my career stays stable. _
And you know, when you quit_
when you're not on the road in concerts and then there's no albums and nothing, people have a tendency to forget.
And that's the last thing I want, because this has been my life for 40 years, it's all I know.
A fellow outlaw and longtime friend, Merle Haggard, joined Johnny for the concert Behind the Walls.
Haggard [A] himself did some time in San Quentin for robbery.
He's hoping his show of [D] confidence in Paycheck will pay [F] off.
I've been knowing him for about [Bb] 25 years.
I've been trying to help him for a long time.
_ I got him [Db] here where he can't do nothing [F] now, maybe I can get something through to him.
What are your hopes for Johnny [Bb] after all this?
_ I think [Gm] he's probably learned his lesson, maybe he'll stay off that dope, you know.
[E] This album is going to boost me [Bb] back up to where I don't have to work as much and [Eb] spend more time with my [Gb] family.
[Eb] _ I'm [Bb] going to call me [B] Nate down in Kentucky and I won't get away any [N] joy.
Personally, do you think it's helping you quite a bit as far as getting your head on?
Oh yes, look, _ sure.
Johnny Paycheck [G] says his mind is back where it belongs, on his music and his family.
_ I'm sitting here in the night, this [C] old town, _ _ _ _ _ [D] still the topic _ you can't [G] go to.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ Paycheck says [Am] his time in hell here may have been heaven sent.
[B] So in one way you thank God that you ended up here?
_ [N] I do, because _ it's very possible that it could have saved my life.
I think I've gained a new perspective on life.
The main thing is _ _ _ when you're in here, _ _ your values, _ _ you realize the small things that when you're on the outside you overlook.
[D] This is not [Gb] Paycheck's first brush [G] with the law.
In 1982, he pleaded no [Em] contest to fourth degree sexual assault on a [C] 12-year-old girl.
That same year he was forced [G] to file for bankruptcy.
Paycheck [C] doesn't blame anybody [D] but himself [G] for his problems.
_ [N] I've had my ups and downs, _ and _ I have no complaints.
_ _ My downs, I _ _ _ caused them, _ and my ups, I caused them.
_ I'm just trying to get this out behind me and get back to my music and my family. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Paycheck _ _ _ is hoping this concert can turn into another platinum album.
His big hit, Take This Job and Shove It, became the working man's anthem.
He realizes he won't be playing to a captive audience outside these walls, but he's sure his fans will stay [Bm] faithful.
Johnny, you've been in and out of trouble so much.
How do you expect people to keep forgiving you and keep coming back as your fans?
_ I've never [G] had any problem with that, Tim.
People seem to understand that I'm a human being.
There's no difference between me and you.
When something [C] happens to me, it's like hanging laundry out on a line with a bunch of steam.
_ [D] _
_ _ _ _ _ Where _
[G] _ _ _ _ _ does Johnny Paycheck go from here?
As [C] soon as he can, he goes home.
And he goes back to [D] his music and his profession.
And he has to visit with the people of America. _ _
[G] _ _ _ [D] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Let's [C] get on with the music! _
_ _ _ _ [Em] _ [D] _ _ _