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James Alley Blues

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90BPM

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1/4

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 4Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Willie Watson - James Alley Blues (Folksinger Vol. 1 - 2014)
original by Rabbit Brown (1927)
Capo on 2nd fret
[Chords]
e|--C------C7------F1-----G3-----|
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
C
CTimes ain't now nothing like they used to be
Oh Ftimes ain't now nothing like they used to Cbe
And I'm Gtellin' you all the truth lord now take it from Cme
CI done seen better days but I'm puttin' up with theseC7  
I done sFeen better days but I'm puttin' up with Cthese
I could have a Gmuch better time if you girls weren't so hard to Cplease
CCause I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to ruleC7  
Cause I was Fborn in the country she thinks I'm easy to Crule
She want to Ghitch me to her wagon, she want to drive me like a Cmule
[Harmonica - same as verse chords]
C    F    C    F    C    G    C
CHow you want me to love you, you keep on treatin' me mean
How do you Fwant me to love you, you keep on treatin' me Cmean
You're my Gdaily thought and my nightly Cdream
CYou know I bought the groceries and I paid the rent
You know I Fbought the groceries and I paid the Crent
Tried to make me Gwash her clothes but I got good common Csense
[Harmonica]
C    F    C    F    C    G    C
CWell if you don't want me why don't you tell me soC7  
Well Fif you don't want me why don't you tell me Cso
Cause I Gain't like a man that ain't got nowhere to Cgo
CSometimes I think that you're too sweet to die
SomeFtimes I think that you're too sweet to Cdie
And another Gtime I think you oughta be buried aliCve
[Harmonica]
C    F    C    F    C    G    C
CTimes ain't now nothing like they used to be
Oh Ftimes ain't now nothing like they used to Cbe
I'm Gtellin' you the truth lord now take it from Cme
(Harmonica)
F      C
(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

All chords in this song (4)

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James Alley Blues

by Willie Watson

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Willie Watson - James Alley Blues (Folksinger Vol. 1 - 2014)

original by Rabbit Brown (1927)

Capo on 2nd fret

[Chords]

C C7 F G

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

F C

Oh times ain't now nothing like they used to be

G C

And I'm tellin' you all the truth lord now take it from me

C C7

I done seen better days but I'm puttin' up with these

F C

I done seen better days but I'm puttin' up with these

G C

I could have a much better time if you girls weren't so hard to please

C C7

Cause I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to rule

F C

Cause I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to rule

G C

She want to hitch me to her wagon, she want to drive me like a mule

[Harmonica - same as verse chords]

C F C F C G C

How you want me to love you, you keep on treatin' me mean

F C

How do you want me to love you, you keep on treatin' me mean

G C

You're my daily thought and my nightly dream

You know I bought the groceries and I paid the rent

F C

You know I bought the groceries and I paid the rent

G C

Tried to make me wash her clothes but I got good common sense

[Harmonica]

C F C F C G C

C C7

Well if you don't want me why don't you tell me so

F C

Well if you don't want me why don't you tell me so

G C

Cause I ain't like a man that ain't got nowhere to go

Sometimes I think that you're too sweet to die

F C

Sometimes I think that you're too sweet to die

G C

And another time I think you oughta be buried alive

[Harmonica]

C F C F C G C

Times ain't now nothing like they used to be

F C

Oh times ain't now nothing like they used to be

G C

I'm tellin' you the truth lord now take it from me

(Harmonica)

F C

(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

About James Alley Blues Chords by Willie Watson

Learn how to play James Alley Blues by Willie Watson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “James Alley Blues chords”, “James Alley Blues guitar chords”, or “Willie Watson James Alley 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 James Alley Blues chords and for experienced players who want accurate James Alley Blues lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, C7, F, G, B, D.

FAQ — James Alley Blues by Willie Watson

How do I play "James Alley Blues" by Willie Watson on guitar?

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Can I transpose "James Alley Blues" to a different key?

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Is "James Alley Blues" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "James Alley Blues" in?

The chords for "James Alley Blues" show the original chord names (including C, C7, F, G, B, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.