Tuning:

Some quality 1929 goodness. Play the F# as either 2x212x or xx1212. [Verse 1]

^CNobody knows 'bout the ^A7jailhouse blues, ^D7Till you get ^G7within four ^Cwalls,

^CAnd the old jailer man turns that ^A7big black key, ^D7That's when your spirit f^G7alls.

Then you ^Cdrag yourself ^C7up to the bars and ^Fwhile you gaze out ^F#dimat the stars ^D7this is what you ^G7say...

[Chorus]

^CWhy did I stray from the ^A7righteous path, ^D7Nobody ^G7knows but ^Cme,

^CThere on the outside you ^A7all can laugh, ^D7I don't need your sym^G7pathy.

For a^Cfter I've paid for the ^C7liquor I sold, I'll ^Fleave this place worth my ^F#dimweight in gold.

^CSo why did I stray from the r^A7ighteous path, ^G7Nobody knows but ^Cme.

^CNobody knows ^G7but ^Cme.

[Verse 2]

When ^Cyou realize that you're ^A7all alone, ^D7Sitting in a ^G7two by ^Cfour

^Cthat little cell is just a ^A7taste of hell, ^D7If you ain't been there be^G7fore.

You are ^Clocked up tight, but they ^C7treat you fair. You ^Fget ev'rything that you ^F#dimneed in there ^D7that's just why you ^Gsay...

[Chorus]

^CWhy did I stray from the ^A7righteous path, ^D7Nobody ^G7knows but ^Cme,

^CThere on the outside you ^A7all can laugh, ^D7I don't need your sym^G7pathy.

For a^Cfter I've paid for the ^C7liquor I sold, I'll ^Fleave this place worth my ^F#dimweight in gold.

^CSo why did I stray from the ^A7righteous path, ^D7Nobody ^G7knows but m^Ce.

^CNobody knows ^G7but ^Cme.

Jimmie Rodgers - Nobody knows but me