This song Ellis plays live and is not yet on an album. Standard blues shuffle. There
are multiple video versions on YouTube.
He plays it in either C# with an open tuning, or in E (C# open tuning with capo on 3rd
fret). Chords are just bar chords for I, IV, V.
Apologies in advance for the lyrics at the bridge. There are just a few lines that are
tough to understand from the vids. All other lyrics should be accurate.
C# open tuning
C# G# C# F G# C#
Capo: 3rd fret to play in E
LYRICS
E
Now, Johnny Cash, the man in black, was at the Grand Ole Opry
A
Drunk with ambition, whiskey and coffee
E B
He was dancing with demons. Nothing could stop him tonight, tonight
E
It felt like a church, he said a little prayer
A
Ran to the stage taking two and three stairs
E B
You can heckle old Johnny, hell he wouldn't care 'cause tonight,
He's gonna kick out the lights.
CHORUS:
E
Kick out the lights, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash
A
Kick out the lights, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash
E
Kick out the lights, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash
B
Kick out the lights
E
Now you can play a big theater to chandeliers and pearls
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/e/ellis_paul/kick_out_the_lights_johnny_cash_crd.html ]
A
Rage inside a stadium to rows of pretty girls
E B
Take your fancy jet, tour around the world, if you like, it's alright
E
Or you can play Folsom prison to the robbers, the crooks
A
To 300 killers giving back dirty looks
E B
If there's a prison riot, you're gonna get the hook, so tonight, you better kick out the lights...
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Dbm A E B
Play, play on John. Johnny until the light goes on
Dbm A E B
Play, play on John. Johnny until the light goes on
E
So go on sing your little love songs about lying and leaving
A
Your mama's good cooking, how you can't break even
E B
Your pick-up truck, how your girlfriend's cheating, it's alright, if you like
E
Or you can sing a ring of fire, and how God cut you down
A
About cocaine, freight trains, Sunday morning coming down
E B
How you shot a man in Reno just to paint the town, you're damn right. You'd be kicking
out the lights.
CHORUS
Dbm Chord
8 9 fret
x x
x x
1 x
x x
x 3
x 3
