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Dead Egyptian Blues

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Dminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Fantastic song by one of the best songwriters around.
    This is the version from Love Stories (1988). In some live versions instead of the "call Nautilus..." line
he sings "And they even named a dog food after you."
    The third instrumental section is bass/fiddle noodling the general melody of the song as an unsung verse.
The song is supposed to be humorous and Smith changes it up a lot when playing live, so play around!
[Intro]
Dm Bb7 A
Dm Bb7 A
Dm Bb7 A
Bb7 A Dm
[Verse]
DmOh Mister Tut what good's it A7do
They love your chair but A7nobody cares for DmyouDm  Ddim7  A7  
EDmgyptian nights were never A7colder
And all your friends are thousands of years DmolderDm/C#  Dm/C  Dm/B  D  
DWhatever D7happened to that Gmgang down by the Sphinx
CSeems they're only forty winks aFwayFaug  Gm  
GmThose girls from Cairo with their Dmbelly button jewels
A7Made you play the Dmfool yesterday yesterA7day
And Dmnow you keep in Ddimshape with Elmer's A7glue
Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian Dmblues
[Instrumental]
Dm  Bb7  A
Dm  Bb7  A
Dm  Bb7  A
Bb7  A  Dm
[Verse]
DmOh Mister Tut, they love the A7mask
But do they love you? A7Honey, sweetheart, Dmdon't askDm  Ddim7  A7  
DmWhere's those baby browns and that pearly A7smile?
That smile that drove 'em wild by the early DmNileDm/C#  Dm/C  Dm/B  D  
DYou make one terD7rific hieroGmglyphic, don't you bro
CCenturies of standing sideways Fturned you to a FaugproGm  
GmThose girls from Cairo who Dmfilled your heart with lust
A7They've all turned to Dmdust, yesterday, yesterA7day
(And those) Dmbandages don't Ddimdo that much for A7you
Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian Dmblues
[Instrumental]
Dm  Bb7/D  A
Dm  Bb7/D  A
[Verse]
DmOh Mister Tut, they dig the A7tomb, yeah
All that gold leaf brightens up a DmroomDdim7  A7  
But what's the Dmdiff, when you're stiff, what riff they're playA7ing
When your ears have spent five thousand years deDmcayinDm/C#g?Dm/C  Dm/B  D  
DWhat does it D7matter what posGmsessions you may boast?
CWhen you're just a ghost it's only Fjive, Faugclive
GmYour sarcophagus is glowing but your eDmsophagus is showing
Who A7cares how rich you Dmare love when you look like Boris A7Karloff
Call DmNautilus, they might Ddimeven refund your A7due
Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian Dmblues
[Instrumental]
Dm  A7  Dm  A7  Dm   A7  Dm  Dm/C#  Dm/C  Dm/B  D
D  Gm  C  F  Faug  Gm  Dm  A7  Dm  A7
Dm  Ddim  A7  Dm
[Verse]
DmOh Mister Tut, you wait and A7see
Another few thousand years they're gonna dig up Dmme
And I'll have all my little treasures near at A7hand
A CD of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club DmBandDm/C#  Dm/C  Dm/B  D  
DA little dried out D7Maui wowee Gmcrumbled in a bong
A lCetter from my honey saying Flove you kid, so long
Some Gmpeanut butter sandwiches that have Dmlong returned to sand
A7Not much gold or silver, but DmTut, I think you'll underA7stand
That Dmin my way DdimI'll be just like A7you
All wrapped up in them dead Egyptian Dmblues
[Outro]
Dm/AAll wrapped upDm/A  A  
Dm/AAll wrapped upDm/A  A  
Dm/AAll wrapped up in them A7dead Egyptian Bdim7blues...

All chords in this song (18)

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Dead Egyptian Blues

by Michael Peter Smith

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bb7

Ddim7

Dm/C#

Dm/C

Dm/B

Faug

Ddim

Bb7/D

Dm/A

Bdim7

Fantastic song by one of the best songwriters around.

This is the version from Love Stories (1988). In some live versions instead of the "call Nautilus..." line

he sings "And they even named a dog food after you."

The third instrumental section is bass/fiddle noodling the general melody of the song as an unsung verse.

The song is supposed to be humorous and Smith changes it up a lot when playing live, so play around!

[Intro]

Dm Bb7 A

Bb7 A Dm

[Verse]

Dm A7

Oh Mister Tut what good's it do

A7 Dm Dm Ddim7 A7

They love your chair but nobody cares for you

Dm A7

Egyptian nights were never colder

Dm Dm/C# Dm/C Dm/B D

And all your friends are thousands of years older

D D7 Gm

Whatever happened to that gang down by the Sphinx

C F Faug Gm

Seems they're only forty winks away

Gm Dm

Those girls from Cairo with their belly button jewels

A7 Dm A7

Made you play the fool yesterday yesterday

Dm Ddim A7

And now you keep in shape with Elmer's glue

Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian blues

[Instrumental]

Dm Bb7 A

Bb7 A Dm

[Verse]

Dm A7

Oh Mister Tut, they love the mask

A7 Dm Dm Ddim7 A7

But do they love you? Honey, sweetheart, don't ask

Dm A7

Where's those baby browns and that pearly smile?

Dm Dm/C# Dm/C Dm/B D

That smile that drove 'em wild by the early Nile

D D7 Gm

You make one terrific hieroglyphic, don't you bro

C F Faug Gm

Centuries of standing sideways turned you to a pro

Gm Dm

Those girls from Cairo who filled your heart with lust

A7 Dm A7

They've all turned to dust, yesterday, yesterday

Dm Ddim A7

(And those) bandages don't do that much for you

Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian blues

[Instrumental]

Dm Bb7/D A

[Verse]

Dm A7

Oh Mister Tut, they dig the tomb, yeah

Dm Ddim7 A7

All that gold leaf brightens up a room

Dm A7

But what's the diff, when you're stiff, what riff they're playing

Dm Dm/C# Dm/C Dm/B D

When your ears have spent five thousand years decaying?

D D7 Gm

What does it matter what possessions you may boast?

C F Faug

When you're just a ghost it's only jive, clive

Gm Dm

Your sarcophagus is glowing but your esophagus is showing

A7 Dm A7

Who cares how rich you are love when you look like Boris Karloff

Dm Ddim A7

Call Nautilus, they might even refund your due

Cause you're all wrapped up in them dead Egyptian blues

[Instrumental]

Dm A7 Dm A7 Dm A7 Dm Dm/C# Dm/C Dm/B D

D Gm C F Faug Gm Dm A7 Dm A7

Dm Ddim A7 Dm

[Verse]

Dm A7

Oh Mister Tut, you wait and see

Another few thousand years they're gonna dig up me

And I'll have all my little treasures near at hand

Dm Dm/C# Dm/C Dm/B D

A CD of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

D D7 Gm

A little dried out Maui wowee crumbled in a bong

C F

A letter from my honey saying love you kid, so long

Gm Dm

Some peanut butter sandwiches that have long returned to sand

A7 Dm A7

Not much gold or silver, but Tut, I think you'll understand

Dm Ddim A7

That in my way I'll be just like you

All wrapped up in them dead Egyptian blues

[Outro]

Dm/A Dm/A A

All wrapped up

Dm/A Dm/A A

All wrapped up

Dm/A A7 Bdim7

All wrapped up in them dead Egyptian blues...

About Dead Egyptian Blues Chords by Michael Peter Smith

Learn how to play Dead Egyptian Blues by Michael Peter Smith with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dead Egyptian Blues chords”, “Dead Egyptian Blues guitar chords”, or “Michael Peter Smith Dead Egyptian 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 Dead Egyptian Blues chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dead Egyptian Blues lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm, Bb7, A, A7, Ddim7, Dm/C#.

FAQ — Dead Egyptian Blues by Michael Peter Smith

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Is "Dead Egyptian Blues" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Dead Egyptian Blues" in?

The chords for "Dead Egyptian Blues" show the original chord names (including Dm, Bb7, A, A7, Ddim7, Dm/C#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.