[Introduction]

 | G | G G7| C | C | D7 | D7 | G  D7 | G |

[Verse 1]
G                           G7
T for Texas, T for Tennesee
C                        G
T for Texas, T for Tennessee
  D7                                      G
T for little Thelma, she's made a fool of me

[Verse 2]
G                                                         G7
She's got eyes like diamonds and her teeth shine just the same
          C                                               G
She's got eyes like diamonds and her teeth shine just the same
      D7                                          G
She's got sweet ruby lips and hair like a horse's mane
G           D7        G
O-de-lay-oh-lay-ee-ay-lay-ee  (spoken: what about it Merle)

[Instrumental]

 | G | G | G | G | G G7 |

 | C | C | C | G | G |

 | D7 | D7 | D7 | G | G |

 | G | D7 | G | G |

[Verse 3]
G                                                G7
I'm gonna buy me a pistol, with a big long shiny barrel
C                                      G
Buy me a pistol, with a big long shiny barrel
          D7                                            G
I'm gonna run off that rounder that's trying to steal my girl.
G           D7        G
O-de-lay-oh-lay-ee-ay-lay-ee

[Verse 4]
G                                                             G7
I'd rather drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log, a hollow log
C                                           G
Rather drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log
        D7                                                   G
Than to tell you sweet Thelma that you treat me like a dirty dog.
G           D7        G
O-de-lay-oh-lay-ee-ay-lay-ee

[Instrumental]

 | G | G | G | G | G G7 |

 | C | C | C | G | G |

 | D7 | D7 | D7 | G | G |

 | G | D7 | G | G |

[Verse 5]
G                                                       G7
An' if you didn't want me mama, you didn't have to stall
       C                                             G
If you didn't want me sugar baby you didn't have to stall
       D7                                                  G
'Cause I can get me more women, than a passenger train can haul.
G           D7        G
O-de-lay-oh-lay-ee-ay-lay-ee

[Verse 6]
G                                                          G7
If the house catch on fire and there ain't no water around
       C                                            G
If the house catches fire and there ain't no water 'round
       D7                                                                G
Throw this old guitar right out of the yard and let it burn right to the ground
G           D7        G        G7
O-de-lay-oh-lay-ee-ay-lay-ee