The spoken prose parts to the song follow the same chord progression, but if you want to
them, then you should pick up a recording of the tune.
slow blues around 85-90
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/l/leadbelly/im_all_out_and_down_crd.html ]
E E7 A
Honey, I'm all out and down, Honey,
A A7 E
I'm broke, babe, an' I ain't got a dime,
A A7 E
Every good man gets in hard luck sometime,
B7 E
Don't they, baby, don't they baby?
E E7 A
Honey, I'm all out and down, Honey,
A A7 E
Oh, the mules and the hosses nicklin' (beggin') for their corn and hay,
A A7 E
Women on the levee shoutin' 'cause it's almost pay day,
B7 E
Cryin', 'Daddy, Sweet Daddy.'
A A7 E
Aw, the women on the levee, honey, hollerin' 'Whoo, haw, gee,'
A A7 E
The mens on the levee hollerin' 'Doncha murder me.
B7 E
Please, baby, doncha murder me.'
E E7 A
Honey, what you want me to do, Honey,
A A7 E
I'm down in the bottom in the mud up to my knees,
A A7 E
Workin' for my baby and she's so hard to please,
B7 E
Ain't you baby? Ain't you baby?
A A7 E
Yellow woman make a preacher lay his Bible down,
A A7 E
Jet-black woman make a jack-rabbit hug a houn',
B7 E
Tell me, baby. Tell me, baby.
E E7 A
Honey, I'm all out and down, Honey,
A A7 E
Worked all the summer and part of the fall,
A A7 E
Had to take my Christmas in my overalls,
B7 E
O Lawdy! O Lawdy!
A A7 E
I'm down in the bottom, skinnin' for Johnny Ryan,
A A7 E
Puttin' my initials, honey, on the mule's behin',
B7 E
With my line, babe. With my line, babe.
E E7 A
Honey.....
[just continue the progression until you feel like ending]
