Black Water Side
(a.k.a. "Blackwaterside")
Words & Music:
Traditional English
This song is the basis for
Led Zeppelin's "Black Mountainside". It is less strummed with chords as played around the vocal
line. It is very free and the instrument
follows the voice instead of the other way 'round. This traditional English way of playing is beautiful and
worth wrapping your brain around and learning. Olav Torvund recommends "Fingerstyle Guitar: New Dimensions and Explorations"
by Stefan Grossman, which goes through the English artists who excel in this
style. I can't wait to buy
it. Jamie Phillips' tab does a
really nice job of notating this style.
Mudcat Cafˇ Lyrics:
[Source: Ballads Migrant
in New England, Flanders.
Collected from James Shephard, Baltimore, VT, 1933.]
On a bright summer's morning as
I went a-walking, viewing the streams that gently did flow.
As the bright sun arose, the
hills did adorn, surrounding the banks of the Black Water Side.
Says he, "My dearest jewel, it's long
we have courted,
We're both fit for marriage, I solemnly
vow,
And if you're inclined in wedlock to join,
Either `Yes' or `No' you must answer me
now."
She says, "I'm oppressed
and quite in distress. I'm quite
unprepared to answer you now.
My fortune is low, as you very
well know, and to be your bride, you know I'm not fit.
I had some friends went to America
And with my old mother, I mean to reside.
I'll here take my lot in this low little
cot
On the lovely sweet banks of the Black Water
Side."
"Well, if you do, you may
happen to rue. I've another in
view that won't me deny.
To labor in vain, I'll not ask
again. I'm not set on coaxing, as
you may rely.
I gave you the proffer. Accept as the
offer
In wee bans of wedlock, we soon would be
tied.
You know I adore you and praise none
before you,
You blooming sweet maid of the Black Water
Side.
"At the age of sixteen, if
she's handsome and clean. As for
her fortune, I'm sure I don't care;
As for her clothing, it never
will grieve me. With you I'd range
this world so wide.
-----------------------
-----------------------
You're the maid I admire, so grant my
desire,
It's you I require from the Black Water
Side."
This maid she arose. To her
mother she goes, telling the story as plain as you see.
She got her consent and away
they both went. They were joined
in Wedlock's sweet unity.
Their health did increase and troubles
grew less.
In peace and in happiness they both do
reside.
The truth I am telling. You will find
their dwelling
On the lovely sweet banks of the Black
Water Side.
Sandy Denny/Linda
Thompson Lyrics:
G
C G
One evening fair I took the air
F C
G
Down by----- blackwaterside.
C
G C G
'Twas in gazing all around me
F
C G
The Irish lad I spied.
All through the first part of that night,
We did lie in sport and play.
When this young man arose and he gathered his clothes,
Saying, "Fare thee well today."
"That's not the promise that you gave to me
When the first you lay on my breast.
You could make me believe with your lying tongue
That the sun rose in the west."
"Go home, go home, to your father's garden
Go home and weep your fill,
And think upon your own misfortune
Which you bought with your wanton will."
There's not one girl in this whole town
As easily led as I.
And when the sky does fall and the seas will run dry,
Why, it's then you'll marry I.
[some reprise verse one here]
Black Water Side Tab (Bert Jansch version)
Tabbed by Jamie Phillips [thanks,
Jamie!]
Tuning: DADGBE (dropped D)
& Capo: 5th Fret
Amazing tune but a real pain
to transcribe! There are bars of 2,3,4,5 and 6; the asterisks let you know how
many beats. You will have to work closely with the record to capture the fine
nuances of the rhythm and structure. There are also slight variations from
verse to verse and in the instrumental. Some of the fingering can be changed to
suit you; most of them I arrived at for reasons of tone. I think mine is a
little different to the Stefan Grossman transcription, though I stick by it -
it sounds really authentic especially when you sing along. Good luck and have
fun!
Rhythm: Varies
Beat* * * * * * * * * *
E||----------------------|------------------------|--3h-5h3-2--0--|
B||-------------------5--|-/7------/7-------7-----|---------------|
G||----------------7-----|---------------7--------|--0------2-----|
D||------------/7--------|------------------------|---------------|
A||-------------------4--|-/5------/5-------------|---------------|
D||----------0-----------|-------0-------------0--|---------------|
* * * * * * * * *
--------------------------------|----------------------------|
-----3-----------------------3--|-----1------1----1----1-----|
-----0h-2h0-------------2-------|-----2------2----2----2-----|
------------4--2--0-----0-------|-----2------2----2----2-----|
--------------------------------|--3-----3-3----3----3-------|
--0------------------0----------|-------------------------0--|
Repeat bar below 3 times on intro
and start again; continue through
on verse without repeats.
* *
*
* * * * * *
---------------|--------------------|--------------------------|
----3----3-----|--3-----------------|--------------------------|
----0----0-----|--0h-2h0----5-------|-----2---------0-------0--|
----0----0-----|---------4--2----0--|-----0h-2h0---------3-----|
--2----2-------|--------------------|------------3--2----------|
------------0--|--------------------|--0-----------------3-----|
* * * *
* * * *
----------------------------|------------------------|
-----3---------0h-1h0----0--|--3---------------------|
-----0h-2h0-----------2-----|-------------0----------|
------------4--0------------|--4----0--4--5----4--5--|
----------------------------|-------------2----0--2--|
--0------------5------------|--0---------------------|
* * * * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--2------------0-------0--------------|--0------0--------------|
--0h-2h0------------3--------0--2--4--|--5------5----4h2-0--2--|
---------3-----2----------------------|--2------2--------------|
--0---------0-------3-----0--0--2--4--|--0------0--------------|
* * * * * * * * * * * *
--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------||
--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------||
-----2---------0-------0--|-----2---------0-------0--|-----2---------0-------0--||
-----0h-2h0---------3-----|-----0h-2h0---------3-----|-----0h-2h0---------3-----||
------------3--2----------|------------3--2----------|------------3--2----------||
--0-----------------3-----|--0-----------------3-----|--0-----------------3-----||