Biography:
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer.
Nicknamed The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists.
The 1900 census indicates that Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July 1892. However, the 1910 census recorded her birthday as April 15
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This is an approximation of the piano chords for guitar of the version of Down Hearted Blues that Bessie Smith
recorded in 1923 - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA
The recording is in C, as here.
[Chords]
Ddim7: xx0101
[Intro]
C A7 D7 Ddim7 G N.C
[Verse 1]
C A7
Gee, but it's hard to love someone
D7 G7 C
When that someone don't love you.
A7
I'm so disgusted, heart broken too.
D7 G7
I've got those down hearted blues.
C7 F
Once I was crazy 'bout a man.
E7
He mistreated me all the time.
D7 G7
The next man I get has got to promise me
A7 D7 G G7
To be mine, all mine.
[Chorus 1]
C F G7 C C7
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days.
F G7 C
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days.
G7 C F C
It seems that trouble's going to follow me to my grave.
[Chorus 2]
C F G7 C C7
I ain't never loved but three mens in my life.
F G7 C
I ain't never loved but three men in my life.
G7 C F C
My father, my brother, the man that wrecked my life.
[Chorus 3]
F G7 C C7
It may be a week, it may be a month or two.
F G7 C
It may be a week, it may be a month or two.
G7 C F C
But the day you quit me honey, it's coming home to you.
[Chorus 4]
C F G7 C C7
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand.
F G7 C
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand.
G7 C F C
I'm going to hold it until you, man come under my command.
recorded in 1923 - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA
The recording is in C, as here.
[Chords]
Ddim7: xx0101
[Intro]
C A7 D7 Ddim7 G N.C
[Verse 1]
C A7
Gee, but it's hard to love someone
D7 G7 C
When that someone don't love you.
A7
I'm so disgusted, heart broken too.
D7 G7
I've got those down hearted blues.
C7 F
Once I was crazy 'bout a man.
E7
He mistreated me all the time.
D7 G7
The next man I get has got to promise me
A7 D7 G G7
To be mine, all mine.
[Chorus 1]
C F G7 C C7
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days.
F G7 C
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days.
G7 C F C
It seems that trouble's going to follow me to my grave.
[Chorus 2]
C F G7 C C7
I ain't never loved but three mens in my life.
F G7 C
I ain't never loved but three men in my life.
G7 C F C
My father, my brother, the man that wrecked my life.
[Chorus 3]
F G7 C C7
It may be a week, it may be a month or two.
F G7 C
It may be a week, it may be a month or two.
G7 C F C
But the day you quit me honey, it's coming home to you.
[Chorus 4]
C F G7 C C7
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand.
F G7 C
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand.
G7 C F C
I'm going to hold it until you, man come under my command.
Beth Beighey
Beth Croft
Beth Crowley
Beth Ditto
Beth Gibbons