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Harlem River Blues

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

JTE plays with capo on 3rd fret (see Youtube and Letterman), but I play it on the 
1st fret, or even without
INTRO:  G/  G/C/  G/  G/C/  G/  G/C/ G  
CHORUS
GLord, I'm goin' uptown to the CHarlem River to drown 
GDirty water's gonna cover me over anDd I'm not gonna make Ga sound 
VERSE 1
GI'm on a roll, mama, I gotta go, I gotta Cget there while I still can 
GTroubled days are behind me now and DI know they're gonna let me in [melody rises]
GSo when you see me walkin' up the FDR, Cjust a-singin' and a-clappin' my hands 
GTell my mama I love her, tell my father I tried, Dgive my money to my baby to GspenG/Cd G  G/C  G  
CHORUS
'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown 
Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound 
VERSE 2
GGood times come and they go, Ceven a good man'll break 
GHe'll let his troubles bury him whole Deven though he knows what's at stake [melody rises]
GSo I'm taking no chances, carrying over Cwhile I'm still good in His grace 
GI'm no fool, mama, I know the difference between Dtempting and choosing my Gfate G/C  G  G/C  G  
CHORUS
'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown 
Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound 
Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown 
Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound
[No chords, or just lightly only strummed on last chorus]
Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown 
Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

All chords in this song (4)

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Harlem River Blues

by Justin Townes Earle

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 3 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

G/C

JTE plays with capo on 3rd fret (see Youtube and Letterman), but I play it on the

1st fret, or even without

G G/C G G/C G G/C G

INTRO: / / / / / /

CHORUS

G C

Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown

G D G

Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

VERSE 1

G C

I'm on a roll, mama, I gotta go, I gotta get there while I still can

G D

Troubled days are behind me now and I know they're gonna let me in [melody rises]

G C

So when you see me walkin' up the FDR, just a-singin' and a-clappin' my hands

G D G G/C G G/C G

Tell my mama I love her, tell my father I tried, give my money to my baby to spend

CHORUS

'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown

Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

VERSE 2

G C

Good times come and they go, even a good man'll break

G D

He'll let his troubles bury him whole even though he knows what's at stake [melody rises]

G C

So I'm taking no chances, carrying over while I'm still good in His grace

G D G G/C G G/C G

I'm no fool, mama, I know the difference between tempting and choosing my fate

CHORUS

'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown

Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown

Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

[No chords, or just lightly only strummed on last chorus]

Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown

Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound

About Harlem River Blues Chords by Justin Townes Earle

Learn how to play Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Harlem River Blues chords”, “Harlem River Blues guitar chords”, or “Justin Townes Earle Harlem River Blues chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Harlem River Blues chords and for experienced players who want accurate Harlem River Blues lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, G/C, C, D.

FAQ — Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle

How do I play "Harlem River Blues" by Justin Townes Earle on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Harlem River Blues" to a different key?

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Can I see chord diagrams for "Harlem River Blues"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Harlem River Blues" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Harlem River Blues" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Harlem River Blues" by Justin Townes Earle with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Justin Townes Earle below.

What key is "Harlem River Blues" in?

The chords for "Harlem River Blues" show the original chord names (including G, G/C, C, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.