Summertime

(Janis Joplin version)

Words & Music:

Ira & George Gershwin & Dubose Heyward

Arr. Janis Joplin/Big Brother & the Holding Company

 

This is flat-out the best cover of this tune ever.  It is originally in Gm, but this key is easier to play and sing.  For purposes here, I've given the chords as played on this cover version.  While I have a note for note transcription of this work I made as a teenager, the tabulature version of the intro and solo guitar work can be found at:  http://www.olga.net.

 

      Cm   Cm/B  Cm/Bb   Cm/A  Cm/Ab         Cm  Cm/B  Cm/Bb Cm/A  Cm/Ab

Summertime, time, time.  Child-----, livin's easy.

          Cm

Fish are, jumpin' up------

                               G   Ab             G  F#

And the cotton, Lord, cotton's high--. Lord, it's high.

F    E       Cm  Cm/B  Cm/Bb

Your daddy's rich.

Cm/A  Cm/Ab        Cm  Cm/B  Cm/Bb  Cm/A  Cm/Ab

And your mama's so good lookin' baby.

Cm

She's lookin' good, now.  Hush, baby, baby, baby, baby.

G                         Cm                G   Cm

No, no, no, no, don't you cry.  Don't you cry-----.

 

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE:

 

C  Cm  Fm  G

 

One of these mornin's you're gonna rise, rise up singin'.

You're gonna spread your wings, child, and take, take to the sky.

Lord, the sky.

Until that mornin', honey, nothing's gonna harm you, now.

 

Cm                       Bb

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

Cm                       Bb

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

Fm                  G                         Cm     C

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, don't you cry.