Backwater Blues

by Bessie Smith, Leadbelly · posted by WaltP

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How to read this tab — notation key

+: Blow note
−: Draw note
b or ': Half-step bend
bb or '': Two half-step bend
bbb or ''': Three half-step bend
(###): Chord — relevant hole numbers in parentheses
< or *: Push the button in (chromatic harmonica)

Full reference and posting tips in the tab guide.

Tab

BACKWATER BLUES
Bessie Smith, Leadbelly
Key: E

          E 
 -8  -8   10    -9   -8
When it rained five days
          A7                    E   
 7   7*  -8     -7    7    6   6 
And the skies turned dark as night.
          A7    
 -8  -8   10    -9   -8
When it rained five days
                                 E
 7   7*  -8     -7    7    6  6 -4 
And the skies turned dark as night.
            B7
  -7  -7*  -8  -8  -8  -8   7 6
There was trou-ble tak-ing place
                      E     
7   7  7-6*  6   6    6
In the low-lands at night.

I woke up in the morning,
Wouldn’t even get out of my door. 2x
Enough trouble to make a poor girl
Wonder where she gonna go.

They rowed a little boat,
About five miles ‘cross the farm 2x
I packed up all my clothing,
Throwed it in and they rowed me along.

It thundered and it lightened,
And the winds began to blow. 2x
There was a thousand women,
Didn’t have no place to go.

I went out to the lonesome,
High old lonesome hill 2x
I looked down on the old house, 
Where I used to live.

Backwater blues have caused me to
Pack up my things and go. 2x
‘Cause my house fell down
And I can’t live there no more.

Mmm, I can’t live there no more 2x
And there ain’t no place
For a poor old girl to go.

Play on a harmonica— watch which holes to blow & draw, with sound