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Version 1 Version 2From: Here's my own arrangement to the unreleased Springsteen classic. I arranged it for guitar and changed the timing a little (of course it's impossible to transcribe Bruce's timing on this number). Excuse me if the chords are a little off from the original version, but it stands alone just fine with the guitar. If I Was The Priest Bruce Springsteen INTRO (don't play the bottom E string on Intro) G/B C/G G C/G G/B C/G G C/G VERSE G G D D Em D C C/G Well there's a light -on yonder -mountain and it's callin' me to shine G G D D Em D C C/G There's a girl over by the water fountain and she's asking to be mine G G D D And ain't that Jesus's he's standing in the doorway Em D C C/G with a buckskin jacket, boots and spurs so really fine G G D D He says we need you up in Dodge City son because there's Em D C (hold) oh so many bad boys tryin' to work the same line G/B C/G G C/G G/B C/G G C/G CHORUS G D Em D Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I was the priest if my Em D C C/G lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief oh and G D C Am papa rode shotgun on the Fargo line Em D C (hold) still too many bad boys tryin' to work the same line G/B C/G G C/G G/B C/G G C/G VERSE G G D D Now old sweet Virgin Mary she runs the Holy Grail Saloon Em D C C/G Where for a nickel they'll give you whiskey and a personally blessed balloon G G D D And the holy ghost is the host with the most he runs the berlesque show Em D C C/G Where they let in for free but ooh hit you when you go G G D D And Mary serves mass on Sunday and then she sells her body on Monday Em D C C/G To the bootlegger who will pay the highest price G G D D Well he don't know he got stuck with the losin Mary stone Em D C (hold) Junkie what's more she's a user She's only been made once or twice that's some kind of magic G/B C/G G C/G G/B C/G G C/G G D Em D Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I was the priest if my Em D C C/G lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief oh and G D C Am papa rode shotgun on the Fargo line Em D C (hold) still too many outlaws tryin' to work the same line G G D D Well things ain't been sane in heaven ever since big bad Bobby came to town Em D C C/G He's been known to down eleven and then ask for another round G G D D And me I got scabs on my knees from kneelin way to long Em D C C/G You got to take a stand, be a man up where you belong G G D D And forget about the old friends in the old times Em D C (hold) But there's just too many new boys trying to work the same line. G/B C/G G C/G CHORUS G D Em D Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I was the priest if my Em D C C/G lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief oh and G D C Am papa rode shotgun on the Fargo line Em D C (hold) still too many outlaws tryin' to work the same line G/B C/G G C/G G/B C/G G C/G VERSE G G D D Em D C C/G Well there's a light -on yonder -mountain and it's callin' me to shine G G D D Em D C C/G There's a girl over by the water fountain and she's asking to be mine G G D D And Jesus's he's standing in the doorway Em D C C/G with 6 guns drawn ready to fan G G D D Said, "We need you tonight son up in Dodge City" Em D C (hold) Told him I was already overdue for Cheyenne CHORUS (3 times) G D Em D Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I was the priest if my Em D C C/G lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief oh and G D C Am papa rode shotgun on the Fargo line Em D C (hold) still too many bad boys tryin' to work the same line (3 times)