Beale Street Blues Chords & Tabs
by Eartha Kitt
[Version Description]
This full chord version of the 'Beale Street Blues' may serve as a basis for guitarists to adapt to their style and preferences.
BEALE STREET BLUES (by Eartha Kitt, written by W. C. Handy)
[Intro]
| F | Bb Bb7 | F | C7 |
[Verse 1]
F Gm Bb C7
If Beale Street could talk, if Beale Street could talk, married men would have to take their beds and walk,
F F7 Bb Bbm F Fdim7 F
except one or two, who never drink booze, and the blind man on the corner who sings the Beale Street blues.
[Verse 2]
F Gm Bb C7
You'll see pretty browns in beautiful gowns. You'll see tailor-mades and hand-me-downs.
F F7 Bb Bbm F
You'll meet honest men, and pick-pockets skilled. You'll find that business never closes 'til
Fdim7 F
somebody gets killed.
[Chorus 1]
Bb Eb7 Bb Bb7
I’d rather be here, than any place I know,
Eb7 Bb7
I’d rather be here, than any place I know,
F7 Eb7 Bb7Eb7 Bb7 F7
it’s gonna take the sergeant for to make me go.
[Chorus 2]
Bb Eb7 Bb Bb7
I’m going to the river, maybe by and by,
Eb7 Bb7
I’m going to the river babe, and there is a reason why,
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7 F7
because the river’s wet, and Beale Street’s done gone dry.
[Verse]
| Bb | | F7 | |
| Bb Bb7 | Eb Ebm | Bb | C7 |
[Verse 1]
F F D7 G7 C7
If Beale Street could talk, if Beale Street could talk, married men would have to take their beds and walk,
F F7 Bb Bbm F D7 G7 F7
except one or two, who never drink booze, and the blind man on the corner who sings the Beale Street blues.
[Chorus 1]
Bb Eb7 Bb Bb7
I’d rather be here (be right here), than any place I know (than any place I know),
Eb7 Bb7
I’d rather be here (be right here), than any place I know (than any place I know),
F7 Eb7 Bb7Eb7 Bb7 F7
it’s gonna take the sergeant for to make me go.
[Chorus 2]
Bb Eb7 Bb Bb7
I’m going to the river (by and by), maybe by and by (maybe by and by),
Eb7 Bb7
Yes, I’m going to the river (by and by), and there is a reason why (there is a reason why),
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7 Bb7
because the river’s wet, and Beale Street’s done gone dry.
Version arranged for rhythm guitar:
[Intro]
| F | Bb Bb7 | F | C7 |
[Verse 1]
| F | | Gm Bb | C7 |
F F7 Bb Bbm F Fdim7 F
If Beale Street could talk, if Beale Street could talk, married men would have to take their beds and walk,
except one or two, who never drink booze, and the blind man on the corner who sings the Beale Street blues.
[Verse 2]
| F | | Gm Bb | C7 |
F F7 Bb Bbm F Fdim7 F
You'll see pretty browns in beautiful gowns. You'll see tailor-mades and hand-me-downs.
You'll meet honest men, and pick-pockets skilled. You'll find that business never closes 'til somebody
gets killed.
[Chorus 1]
| Bb | Eb7 | Bb | Bb7 |
| Eb7 | | Bb7 | |
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7 F7
I’d rather be here, than any place I know,
I’d rather be here, than any place I know,
it’s gonna take the sergeant for to make me go.
[Chorus 2]
| Bb | Eb7 | Bb | Bb7 |
| Eb7 | | Bb7 | |
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7 F7
I’m going to the river, maybe by and by,
I’m going to the river babe, and there is a reason why,
because the river’s wet, and Beale Street’s done gone dry.
[Verse]
| Bb | | F7 | |
BbBb7 Eb Ebm Bb C7
instrumental
[Verse 1]
| F | | F D7 | G7 C7 |
F F7 Bb Bbm F D7 G7 F7
If Beale Street could talk, if Beale Street could talk, married men would have to take their beds and walk,
except one or two, who never drink booze, and the blind man on the corner who sings the Beale Street blues.
[Chorus 1]
| Bb | Eb7 | Bb | Bb7 |
| Eb7 | | Bb7 | |
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7 F7
I’d rather be here (be right here), than any place I know (than any place I know),
I’d rather be here (be right here), than any place I know (than any place I know),
it’s gonna take the sergeant for to make me go.
[Chorus 2]
| Bb | Eb7 | Bb | Bb7 |
| Eb7 | | Bb7 | |
F7 Eb7 Bb7 Eb7 Bb7
I’m going to the river (by and by), maybe by and by (maybe by and by),
Yes, I’m going to the river (by and by), and there is a reason why (there is a reason why),
because the river’s wet, and Beale Street’s done gone dry.
