I Believe I'll Dust My Broom

(original Robert Johnson version, a.k.a. "Dust My Broom")

Words & Music:

Robert Johnson (1936)

Administered by Music & Media International, Inc.

On his excellent blues guitar site, Olav Torvund says that Open E tuning (E B E G# B E) is traditional for this song, but notes that Davie Rubin claims that Robert Johnson used Aadd9 tuning (E B E D C# E). Do NOT leave your guitar for long in either tuning. The extra tight strings may warp your neck.

Correspondent John Renderio was kind enough to send along

his complete and correct bass tab for the ZZ Top cover of this tune, which is in open D tuning for all guitars (D A D F# A D). Tab for the Robert Johnson version follows in Drop D tuning (easier on the guitar). Rory Block teaches the RJ version of this song on her DVD from Homespun Tapes.

I(E)

I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom.

IV(A) I(E)

I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom.

V(B) IV(A) I(A)

Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room.

I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know.

If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe, I know.

I don't want no woman wants every downtown man she meet.

She's a no good doney, they shouldn't allow her on the street.

I believe, I believe I'll go back home.

You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home.

And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom.

I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom.

Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room.

I'm gonna call up Chiney, see is my good girl over there.

I'm gonna call up China, see is my good girl over there.

'F I can't find her on Philippines' island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere.

I Believe I'll Dust My Broom Robert Johnson Tab (Drop D)

[recording of 1st of 5 sessions, November 23 1936, San Antonio, Texas

from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice]

E||--10--10--10--10--10------10--10--10--|--7-----------3--3-----3-------|

B||----------------------10--------------|-----------2-----2--2----------|

G||--------------------------------------|-----------------2--------2----|

D||----------10------9-----------8---8---|--7--x--2-----------------2----|

A||--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|

D||--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|

--8---8---8---8---8---8---8-----------------------|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10----------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|

------------------------------x--2--2--0--0--2----|

------------------------------x--0--0--0--0--0----|

--8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---|--5-----------------------|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--|--7-----------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|--0--------------------5--|

--------------------------------------------------|-----0--2--2--0--0--2-----|

--------------------------------------------------|-----0--0--0--0--0--0-----|

--7--7------------------------|--7--7----------------------|

--------------------------8---|----------------------------|

------------------------------|----------------------------|

--5---------------------------|----------------------------|

--5-----5--7--7--5--5--7----5-|--5-----5--7--7--5--5--7----|

--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5----5-|--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5----|

--8---8---8---8---8---8---10--10--10--10--10--10--|--2------------------5----|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--|--3--------------3/7------|

--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|--0--0--2--2--0------0----|

--------------------------------------------------|--0--0--0--0--0-----------|

--------------------------------|--7--7-----------------------|

--------------------------------|-----------------------------|

--------------------------------|--------------------------7--|

--2--2--2--2--4--4--2--2--4-----|-----------------------------|

--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--------|--5-----5--7--7--5--5--7-----|

-----------------------------5--|--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5-----|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10-----10--|--10----------3--3--3-------|

----------10--10--10----------7---7--7---|--7--------2--------2-------|

-----------------------------------------|-----------------2----------|

--7-------10----------9-------8------8---|--7-----2-------------------|

-----------------------------------------|-----------------------0----|

-----------------------------------------|----------------------------|

--8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---|--10----------------------|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--|--10----------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

--0---0---0---0-----------0-----------0-----------|--0---x-------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|------0--2--2--0--0--2----|

--------------------------------------------------|------0--0--0--0--0--0----|

--8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---|--2-----------------------|

--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--|--3-----------------------|

--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------7--|

--0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------|--0--x--------------------|