Wildebeest chords by The Handsome Family

A

    A   E   A
When Stephen Foster died
   D         A
in a flop-house on the Bowery
   D        A
His worn-out wallet held
     E      E7
just a quarter and a dime

     D     E    A
But the crocodiles have to eat,
   F#m    E    A
the crocodiles have to eat

   A     E      A
He smashed his head on the sink
    D        A
in the bitter fever of gin
  D        A
A wildebeest gone crazy with thirst
     E          E7
pulled down as he tried to drink

   D        E    A
But deep down in the muddy stream
   F#m     E      A
even crocodiles dream their dreams

  A    E      A
And as the herd galloped off
  D           A
he lay on that flophouse floor
 D          A
Singing, "Beautiful Dreamer"
     E       E7
as the lions began to roar

    D      E     A
But we all have our beautiful dreams
      F#m      E   A
running through us like wildebeest

D E A D A  D A E E7

D E A F#m E A

   A    E      A
And when we meet at the river
   D           A
to cross to that gleaming shore
   D         A
The river, she always takes a few
    E        E7
as the herd thunders across

     D    E     A
But the river has oceans to feed,
     F#m   E     A
she has beautiful oceans to feed

    A      E    A
And the oceans they feed the sky
     D       A
and the sky feeds the earth
   D        A
And Stephen Foster's beautiful ghost
   E       E7
lay down to feed a song

  D     E    A
To feed ten thousand songs
F#m   E        A
echoing cross the wild plains