Why I Sing the Blues

by B B King · posted by Scott_Christensen

How hard is it?

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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

Cross Harp

        
4 -4 -3' 2 -3'' 2  -3'  2  2  -3' -3' -2 -2 -2 

5  -3' -3'-3' -3'  -2  -2   -2  2   -2  -2   2
Every  bod-y wants to know  why I sing the blues

  5  -4  4 -4 4-3' -2  -2   -2   -2  
Yes, I say everybod-y wants to know 
-2  2   -2  -3'  -2
why I sing the blues

 -3'   -3' 4    4  -4 -3' -3'  -2
Well, I've been around a long time,

-3'' -3' -3'  2   -2   -2   2
I   real -ly have paid my dues.

      (first verse)

2    -2 -3  -3'' -2  -2       
When I first got the blues, 
2    -2     -2 -2 -2  -2 2 -3
they brought me o-ver on a ship,

-3'  -2   -2  -2 -2-2 -2 -2  
Men were standing over me 
-2  -2 5   4   -3   -2   -3  2  
and alot more with the whip,

      (chorus)

 2 -3 -3  -3 -2' -2 -2
Everybody wanna know

-3' 2 -2  -3'  -2
Why I sing the blues

 -3    -3   -3  -3  4 -4  -3' -2    -2
Well, I've been around a long  time,

-3' -2  2 -3'   -3' -2   -2 -2
MMM, I real-ly paid my dues.
       
      (second verse)
I've laid in the ghetto flat, cold and numb,
I heard the rats tell the  bedbugs to give the roaches some.
      (chorus)
       
      (third verse)
I stood in line down in the county hall
I heard a man say, " We are going to build some new apartments for y'all."
      (chorus)

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