Verse 1 I was ridin’ through the black hills With a pocket full of sin Had a silver-handled six-gun And a bottle full of gin Saw a captain by the roadside Countin’ gold beneath the moon I said, “Hand it over easy, boy Or you’ll be prayin’ soon” He reached down for his saber But I was quicker on the draw Left him cursin’ in the dust cloud With his fortune in my paw Pre-Chorus I ran straight back to Rosie With the gold and devil’s grin She kissed me like an angel While she let the trouble in Chorus Whoa-oh-oh, whiskey on the wire Hearts go up like gasoline fire Whoa-oh-oh, raise it to the sky Love will sell you, truth will lie Bang bang, roll me down Tie my name to a wanted town Whoa-oh-oh, sing it like a choir There’s whiskey on the wire tonight Verse 2 Rosie swore she’d never leave me Swore it on her mama’s grave But her eyes were full of lightning And her lips were born to betray I was drunk and half-forgiven Boots kicked off beside her bed When the door flew open screaming And the captain raised his head There were six boys right behind him All with rifles aimed at me I laughed hard, grabbed my pistols Said, “Come dance with destiny” Pre-Chorus The room lit up like thunder Smoke rolled across the floor I should’ve known that woman Was the keyhole in the door Chorus Whoa-oh-oh, whiskey on the wire Hearts go up like gasoline fire Whoa-oh-oh, raise it to the sky Love will sell you, truth will lie Bang bang, roll me down Tie my name to a wanted town Whoa-oh-oh, sing it like a choir There’s whiskey on the wire tonight Bridge Some boys chase the money Some boys chase the crown Some boys chase pretty women Till they bury them underground Me, I chased a shadow With red lips and black lace Now I’m singin’ to the jailhouse moon With iron on my waist Gang vocals: Lock me up! Throw me down! Still can’t kill this outlaw sound! Lock me up! Chain me tight! I’ll be drinkin’ in hell tonight! Guitar Solo Section Big screaming 80’s solo here — dive bombs, harmonics, wild bends, crowd chant underneath: Whoa-oh-oh! Whiskey on the wire! Whoa-oh-oh! Set the night on fire! Final Chorus Whoa-oh-oh, whiskey on the wire Hearts go up like gasoline fire Whoa-oh-oh, raise it to the sky Love will sell you, truth will lie Bang bang, roll me down Tie my name to a wanted town Whoa-oh-oh, sing it like a choir There’s whiskey on the wire tonight Outro Whiskey on the wire Fire in my soul Rosie took my freedom But she’ll never take my rock and roll Whiskey on the wire Yeah, I’m goin’ down loud Chain me to the floorboards I’ll still sing it to the crowd Whoa-oh-oh… whiskey on the wire tonight Whoa-oh-oh… whiskey on the wire tonight
