Em                              Am
'Twas in the hills of West Virginia near the end of World War II
                 D                Em
On a lazy summer evening when the lonesome darkness grew.
     Am                                       Em
They say there was nothing like it, and there may ne'er be again,
                                D               Em
When the Shinnston tornado came down and took a spin.

[Chorus]
     Em                           Am
     Where do you run to when the noon is black as night,
                             D                       Em
     And you hear a rumblin' freight train but there isn't one in sight,
             Am                                 Em
     And you feel you're body risin' though you say it can't be so?
                                              D              Em
     Well, I'm tellin' you it happened in the Shinnston tornado.

[Verse]
     Em                                    Am
They say it was north of Shinnston when it first came to the ground,
       D                          Em
And it cut in broken peices every obstacle it found,
    Am                                   Em
And like the day of judgement, some were taken some where spared.
                                   D                 Em
We all felt nature's fury; we were helpless tired and scared.

[Bridge]
     Em      Am              Em
     Can you feel the winds upon you?
              Am                     D      Em
     Does the funnel's body make you sore afraid?
            Am                                      Em
     Do you doubt the fire of God when the storm's around you?
               Am                                    Em
     Well, get on your knees and pray that you'll be saved!

[Chorus]
     Em                           Am
     Where do you run to when the noon is black as night,
                             D                       Em
     And you hear a rumblin' freight train but there isn't one in sight,
             Am                                 Em
     And you feel you're body risin' though you say it can't be so?
                                              D              Em
     Well, I'm tellin' you it happened in the Shinnston tornado.

[Verse]
Em                                         Am
Well, it's been forty years now since that dreaded storm came down,
    D                              Em
But even yet the twisted trees and damage can be found;
       Am                                  Em
Though only those who lived there then can see its path and show
                                      D              Em
That trail of death and fury from the Shinnston tornado.

[Outro]
     Em                           Am
     Where do you run to when the noon is black as night,
                             D                       Em
     And you hear a rumblin' freight train but there isn't one in sight,
             Am                                 Em
     And you feel you're body risin' though you say it can't be so?
                                              D              Em
     But, I'm tellin' you it happened in the Shinnston tornado.