Me And The Devil Blues

Words & Music:

Robert Johnson

Tabbed by: Markus Tron

Notes from Markus Tron: "...I think Johnsons guitar is in standard tuning, with a capo on the first fret (= B flat). I play it in A. The above is a very easy way to play that Robert Johnson song. For a more detailed transcription I would recommend: Scott Ainslie's "Robert Johnson complete guitar transcription". It's NOT a book for beginners!..." Also, I highly recommend Rory Block's DVD's on Robert Johnson from Homespun Tapes.

INTRO:

e -|-9-9-9-9-9----|-8-8-8-8-8----|-7-7-7-7-7----|-5----5-5--5-5--5-5--5------|-

B -|-8-8-8-8-8----|-7-7-7-7-7----|-6-6-6-6-6----|-5--------------------------|-

G -|-9-9-9-9-9----|-8-8-8-8-8----|-7-7-7-7-7----|-6--------------------------|-

D -|--------------|--------------|--------------|------5-5--4-4--3-3--2------|-

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

E -|--------------|--------------|--------------|------------------------0-0-|-

FIRST VERSE:

e -|-8/9---------------------|---|-

B -|-7/8---------------------|---|-

G -|-8/9---------------------|---|-

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

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

E -|-------------------------|---|-

Early this morning

e -|-8/9~------------------------|-9-9-9-9-9-8-8-8-8-9-9-8-8-9-|-

B -|-7/8~------------------------|-8-8-8-8-8-7-7-7-7-8-8-7-7-8-|-

G -|-8/9~------------------------|-9-9-9-9-9-8-8-8-8-9-9-8-8-9-|-

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

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

E -|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-

when you knocked upon my door.

e -|-2-----------------------|---|-

B -|-1-----------------------|---|-

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

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

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

E -|------2----2----2--------|---|-

Early this morning

e -|-------------------------|------------------|-

B -|-------------------------|-8-8-8-8--8-8-8-8-|-

G -|--2-----2-----2----2-----|-6-6-6-6--6-6-6-6-|-

D -|-------------------------|-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-|-

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

E -|--2-----2-----2----2-----|------------------|-

when you knocked upon my door.

e -|-------------------------|-------------------------|-

B -|-------------------------|-------------------------|-

G -|-------------------------|-------------------------|-

D -|--0----0----0----0-------|--0----0----0----0-------|-

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

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

And I said "Hello Satan I believe it's time to go"

e -|-------5-5--5-5--5-5--|-----|-

B -|--2-------------------|-3-3-|-

G -|--2-------------------|-1-1-|- [to blues turnaround of choice]

D -|--2----5-5--4-4--3-3--|-2-2-|-

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

E -|----------------------|-----|-

------------------------

additional lyrics:

Me and the Devil was walking side by side.

I'm goin' to beat my woman until I get satisfied.

She say you don't see why that I will dog her 'round.

It must be that ol' evil spirit so deep down in the ground.

You my burn my body down by the highway side.

So my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.

------------------------

/ : pick first note and slide up to second without picking second note.

\ : pick first note and slide down to second without picking second note.

~ : slight vibrato.

h : hammer on.

p : pull off.

d : dampen (with left or right hand) as soon as you play next note