G 
Smokey had a gambling problem 
G 
God bless his soul 
F                             C               G 
He'd take all his rocks and shake 'em up and hope they'd turn into pearls. 
G 
Pearl was at home 
G 
Taking care of their three kids 
     F                               C                          G 
Like a weed out in the garden that choked the life right out of them 
 

         C             G 
Take it easy, Take it slow 
          D               G 
One more drink, One more road 
           C                G            D 
Won't you sit around as it slowly burns away 
                C 
Ain't nothing changed 
                  G 
It's going up in flames  

 
G 
It was early December 
G 
And it turned out cold 
       F                       C           G 
Smokey bought him a fifth of Turkey and headed on down to the boats 
G 
Didn't take him an hour 
G 
To burn three grand 
        F                         C                      G 
Jumped right out of the oven and right up into that ol' frying pan 

Chorus 

(Solo) 
G 
Smokey stumbled in next morning 
G 
Fell face down on the floor 
F                        C                 G 
Pearl and the kids were gone, there was a note hanging on the door 
G 
He took out one last cigarette 
G 
Struck one last match 
            F                       C          G 
Watched the house goin down around him as he took in one last draft 

Chorus x2