Yuba City Chords & Lyrics - Utah Phillips

I [A]came into Yuba as [E]soon as I read
Of [D]all of those twenty-five [A]hobos found dead
I [A]came in to find out if o[D]ne of the slain
Could have a[A]nswered to m[E]y brother's [A]name
It [A]might be your brother, I [E]just couldn't say
We [D]hire lots of floaters who [A]work by the day;
Now [A]I see his photo they [D]might be the same
But I [A]never did [E]ask him his [A]name

Chorus: If [A]I had a list and if [E]I only knew
I'd [E]write down their names and [A]sing them to you
And [A]when I got done, I'd [D]sing them again
So you'd [A]all know each [E]one had a [A]name
H[A]e had a room and ran [E]out on the rent
H[D]ired on a crew, I don't [A]know where he went
If [A]I knew his boss, I [D]might make a claim
But I [A]never did w[E]rite down his [A]name

He [A]stopped for a drink every [E]now and again
D[D]idn't look no different than h[A]undreds of men;
You [A]know these old winos, they [D]all look the same
No [A]reason to [E]ask him his [A]name
It [A]might have been Shorty, a [E]feller I knew
We [D]bunked in the empties when the [A]season was through
You [A]know, I been thinking, it [D]sure is a shame
I [A]never did [E]ask him his [A]name

We [A]always abandon the [E]old for the new
And [D]second-hand people get [A]thrown away, too;
I [A]know it won't help, but [D]still it explains
Why [A]no one rem[E]embers their [A]names