Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle
Tabbed by Wade Lewis (contact wmlewis1@gmail.com) - corrections/additions welcome
JTE plays with capo on 3rd fret (see Youtube and Letterman), but I play it on the
1st fret, or even without
INTRO: G / G/C / G / G/C / G / G/C / G
CHORUS
GC
Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown
GDG
Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound
VERSE 1
GC
I'm on a roll, mama, I gotta go, I gotta get there while I still can
GD
Troubled days are behind me now and I know they're gonna let me in (melody rises)
GC
So when you see me walkin' up the empty yard, just a-singin' and a-clappin' my hands
GDGG/G/C
Tell my mama I love her, tell my father I tried, give my money to my baby to spend
CHORUS
'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound
VERSE 2
GC
Good times come and they go, even a good man'll break
GD
He'll let his troubles bury him whole even though he knows what's at stake (melody rises)
GC
So I'm taking no chances, carrying over while I'm still good in His grace
GDGGG/C
I'm no fool, mama, I know the difference between tempting and choosing my fate
CHORUS
'cause Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water's gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound
Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound
(No chords, or just lightly only strummed on last chorus)
Lord, I'm goin' uptown to the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over and I'm not gonna make a sound