Willie Watson - James Alley Blues (Folksinger Vol. 1 - 2014)
original by Rabbit Brown (1927)
Capo on 2nd fret
[Chords]
e|--------------1-----3-----|
B|--1-----1-----1-----3-----|
G|--0-----3-----2-----0-----|
D|--2-----2-----3-----0-----|
A|--3-----3-----3-----2-----|
E|--------------1-----3-----|
The song is fingerpicked and when on C alternate the base notes between C and G
Times ain t now nothing like they used to be
Oh times ain t now nothing like they used to be
And I m tellin you all the truth lord now take it from me
I done seen better days but I m puttin up with these
I done seen better days but I m puttin up with these
I could have a much better time if you girls weren t so hard to please
Cause I was born in the country she thinks I m easy to rule
Cause I was born in the country she thinks I m easy to rule
She want to hitch me to her wagon, she want to drive me like a mule
[Harmonica - same as verse chords]
How you want me to love you, you keep on treatin me mean
How do you want me to love you, you keep on treatin me mean
You re my daily thought and my nightly dream
You know I bought the groceries and I paid the rent
You know I bought the groceries and I paid the rent
Tried to make me wash her clothes but I got good common sense
[Harmonica]
Well if you don t want me why don t you tell me so
Well if you don t want me why don t you tell me so
Cause I ain t like a man that ain t got nowhere to go
Sometimes I think that you re too sweet to die
Sometimes I think that you re too sweet to die
And another time I think you oughta be buried alive
[Harmonica]
Times ain t now nothing like they used to be
Oh times ain t now nothing like they used to be
I m tellin you the truth lord now take it from me
(Harmonica)
(Extra verse sung in some live performances):
I ve been givin you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt
I ll give you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt
And if you can t get along with me well it s your own fault