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Bessie Smith

Chords

4.912 votes

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Bessie Smith
Bob Dylan and the Band
The Basement Tapes
[intro] 
C F F#dim C Am D7 F C F
[verse 1]
CBessie was C/Gmore thAman just D7a friend of miFne G  
CWe shared the  Egood times with the Ambad D7  F  
CNow C/Gmany a   Amyear has D7passed me by F  G  
CI still recEall the best Amthing I ever had F  
[chorus]
CI'm just goin' down the road t' see FBessie
COh, See her soon G  
CGoin' down the road t' see BFessie F#dimSmith
When I Cget  Amthere I'm D7wondering Fwhat she'll do C  F  
[verse 2]
CNow C/Gall the Amcrazy tD7hings I had to tFryG  
CWell I tried thEem all and then someAm  D7  F  
CBut C/Gif you're Amlucky one D7day you find ouFtG  
CWhere it is Eyou're reallAmy comin' fromF  
[chorus]
CI'm just goin' down the road t' see FBessie
COh, See her soon G  
CGoin' down the road t' see BFessie F#dimSmith
When I Cget  Amthere I'm D7wondering Fwhat she'll do C  F  
[verse 3]
CNow in my dC/Gay I've Ammade sD7ome foolish movFesG  
CBut back then, EI didn't worry 'bout Ama thD7ingF  
CAnd C/Gnow agaAmin I stiD7ll wonder to myFselGf
CWas it her sweet lEove or the Amway that she could singF  
[chorus]
CI'm just goin' down the road t' see FBessie
COh, See her soon G  
CGoin' down the road t' see BFessie F#dimSmith
When I Cget  Amthere I'm D7wondering Fwhat she'll do C  F  
[verse 4]
CThere's so C/Gmuch tiAmme has D7gone right on bFyG  
CI didn't Ethink one could Ambe so wrongD7  F  
CAnd C/Gthen one nAmight I was dD7rinkin' and a-thinkin'F  G  
CIn the bottom of the glEass I could see AmBessie's face so stronFg
[chorus]
CI'm just goin' down the road t' see FBessie
COh, See her soon G  
CGoin' down the road t' see BFessie F#dimSmith
When I Cget  Amthere I'm D7wondering Fwhat she'll do C  F  
[verse 5]
CWhen she sees C/Gme will she Amknow what I've D7been through?F  G  
CWill old times Estart to fAmeelin' like nD7ew?F  
CWhen C/GI get tAmhere will our D7love still feel so trFue?G  
CYet all I Ehave, I'll be a-Ambringin' it to yFouG  
COh Bessie, Esing them Amold-time bFlues
[chorus]
CI'm just goin' down the road t' see FBessie
COh, See her soon G  
CGoin' down the road t' see BFessie F#dimSmith
When I Cget  Amthere I'm D7wondering Fwhat she'll do C  F  

All chords in this song (8)

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Bessie Smith

by The Band

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#dim

C/G

Bessie Smith

Bob Dylan and the Band

The Basement Tapes

[intro]

C F F#dim C Am D7 F C F

[verse 1]

C C/G Am D7 F G

Bessie was more than just a friend of mine

C E Am D7 F

We shared the good times with the bad

C C/G Am D7 F G

Now many a year has passed me by

C E Am F

I still recall the best thing I ever had

[chorus]

C F

I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie

C G

Oh, See her soon

C F F#dim

Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith

C Am D7 F C F

When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do

[verse 2]

C C/G Am D7 F G

Now all the crazy things I had to try

C E Am D7 F

Well I tried them all and then some

C C/G Am D7 F G

But if you're lucky one day you find out

C E Am F

Where it is you're really comin' from

[chorus]

C F

I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie

C G

Oh, See her soon

C F F#dim

Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith

C Am D7 F C F

When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do

[verse 3]

C C/G Am D7 F G

Now in my day I've made some foolish moves

C E Am D7 F

But back then, I didn't worry 'bout a thing

C C/G Am D7 F G

And now again I still wonder to myself

C E Am F

Was it her sweet love or the way that she could sing

[chorus]

C F

I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie

C G

Oh, See her soon

C F F#dim

Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith

C Am D7 F C F

When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do

[verse 4]

C C/G Am D7 F G

There's so much time has gone right on by

C E Am D7 F

I didn't think one could be so wrong

C C/G Am D7 F G

And then one night I was drinkin' and a-thinkin'

C E Am F

In the bottom of the glass I could see Bessie's face so strong

[chorus]

C F

I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie

C G

Oh, See her soon

C F F#dim

Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith

C Am D7 F C F

When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do

[verse 5]

C C/G Am D7 F G

When she sees me will she know what I've been through?

C E Am D7 F

Will old times start to feelin' like new?

C C/G Am D7 F G

When I get there will our love still feel so true?

C E Am F G

Yet all I have, I'll be a-bringin' it to you

C E Am F

Oh Bessie, sing them old-time blues

[chorus]

C F

I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie

C G

Oh, See her soon

C F F#dim

Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith

C Am D7 F C F

When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do

About Bessie Smith Chords by The Band

Learn how to play Bessie Smith by The Band with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Bessie Smith chords”, “Bessie Smith guitar chords”, or “The Band Bessie Smith 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 Bessie Smith chords and for experienced players who want accurate Bessie Smith lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, F#dim, Am, D7, C/G.

FAQ — Bessie Smith by The Band

How do I play "Bessie Smith" by The Band on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Bessie Smith" by The Band on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Bessie Smith" by The Band free?

Yes. The chords for "Bessie Smith" by The Band are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Bessie Smith" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Bessie Smith" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Bessie Smith"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Bessie Smith" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Bessie Smith" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Bessie Smith" by The Band with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Band below.

What key is "Bessie Smith" in?

The chords for "Bessie Smith" show the original chord names (including C, F, F#dim, Am, D7, C/G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.