Poor Old Slave (hi-lo)

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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

POOR OLD SLAVE hi-lo
By G. W. H. Griffin – 1851
Trad. folk song
Key: D
Time: 6/8


  3   3    4   5  -4 4  -3” 4
  6   6    7   7  -8 7  -6  7
'Tis just one year a-go to-day,

 4  -3 4  -4  -3   4
 7  -7 7  -8  -7   7
That I re-mem-ber well,

3  3   4   5   -4   4   -3”  4
6  6   7   8   -8   7   -6   7
I sat down by poor Nel-ly's side

 4  4 -3  4  -4  -3   4
 7  7 -7  7  -8  -7   7
And a sto-ry she did tell.

  4     -3  4  -4  -3  4  5    3
  7     -7  7  -8  -7  7  8    6
'Twas 'bout a poor un-hap-py slave,

 3    -3”  -3” -3”-5.-3” 3
 7    -6   -6  -6 -9.-6  6
That lived for man-y a year;

 3   3   4    5    -4  4  -3”  4...
 6   6   7    8    -8  7  -6   7...
But now he's dead, and in his grave,

4  -3   4  -4.. -3  4
7  -7   7  -8.. -7  7
No mas-ter does he fear.

CHORUS

 4   5    5    5    5   -4  -4  -4
 7   8    8    8    8   -8  -8  -8
The poor old slave has gone to rest,

-4  -4   -4  -4 -5  5
-8  -8   -8  -8 -9  8
We know that he is free.

 5   5    5   5   6  -5  -5  -5...
 8   8    8   8   9  -9  -9  -9...
Dis-turb him not but let him rest,

 -5   5   5  -4  -3  4
 -9   8   8  -8  -7  7
'Way down in Ten-na-see.

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