New lyrics for Blind Willie McTell are a rare thing, pretty much limited to the “I’ll tell you one thing” hook that was borrowed from the cover performed by The Band. That line is still used to this day but here’s a new one, in place of the “chain gang on the highway…” lines:
There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
Well, some of them were killed in battle
Well, some of them survived as well
I can tell you one thing, that nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell