C
Wish I had a-known ya
     Am                C
When you were a little younger
       Am                                   C
Around me you might have learned a thing or two
C
If I had known you longer
    Am                C
You might be a little stronger
    Am                C                   Am G F
And maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do
F                 G                   C
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do

[Verse]
      Am                                  D
As he walked into the poolroom, you could tell he didn't fit
       C                                 E
In his handmade boots, custom suits, and pearl handled shooting stick
Am                                  D
Tonight there'd be a showdown, then everyone would know
    C                                    E
Who shoots the meanest game around - The Baron or Billy Joe

Am                     D
Billy Joe looked edgy, about to lose his cool
        C                                 E
But the Baron's hands were steady, as the two began to duel
      Am                         D
Yeah, he was like a general on a battlefield of slate
         C                     E
And he'd say to Billy Joe each time he sunk the eight
G
He'd say...

[Chorus]
C
Wish I had a-known ya
     Am                C
When you were a little younger
       Am                                   C
Around me you might have learned a thing or two
C
If I had known you longer
    Am                C
You might be a little stronger
    Am                C                   Am G F
And maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do
F                 G                   C
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do

[Verse]
    Am                           D
Now Billy Joe was busted, but he hadn't felt the sting
    C                                 E
And from the far end of the table, he threw his mother's wedding ring
       Am                             D
And he said "you won my money, but it ain't gonna do the trick
     C                              E
I'll bet this ring on one more game against your fancy stick"

    Am                            D
The Baron's eyes got foggy as the ring rolled on the felt
       C                                    E
And he almost doubled over like he had been hit below the belt
Am                           D
Twenty years ago, it was the ring his wife had worn
       C                                 E
And he didn't know before he left that a son would soon be born

   Am                                 D
It sounded just like thunder when the Baron shot the break
       C                        E
But it grew thickly quiet as he lined up the eight
       Am                                    D
Then a warm hand touched his shoulder and it chilled him to the bone
        C                                E
When he turned and saw the woman who had loved him for so long

    Am                           D
The game was never finished; the eight ball never fell
    C                             E
The Baron calmly picked it up and put it on the shelf
        Am                                D
Then he placed the ring in the hands that held him long ago
       C                                       E
And he tossed that fancy shooting stick to his son Billy Joe
G
And he said...

[Chorus]
C
Wish I had a-known ya
     Am                C
When you were a little younger
       Am                                   C
Around me you might have learned a thing or two
C
If I had known you longer
    Am                C
You might be a little stronger
    Am                C                   Am G F
And maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do
F                 G                   C
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do