Cumberland Blues

Grateful Dead

Key of G · Chords: I II III IV V VII bII ii vi

Verse 1

G       G         G                 G   G      G       G    G
I can't stay much longer, Melin-da, the sun is getting high,
G       G        G         G            G         G         G    G
I can't help you with your trou-bles if you won't help with mine.
F#          F#      Bb          B     Bb           A    Ab    G
I gotta get down,   I gotta get down, I  gotta get down to    the mine.

Instrumental

G G G G

Verse 2

You keep me up just one more night, I can't sleep here no more.
Little Ben clock says quarter 'til eight, you kept me up 'til four.
I gotta get down, I gotta get down, or I can't work there no more.

Instrumental

G G G G G

Verse 3

G          G          G                  G G           G             G    G
Lotta poor man make a five dollar bill,  will keep him happy all the time.
G          G       G                      G G         G            G G
Some other fella's makin' nothin' at all  and you can hear him cry,
C      C         C               D         D                  D D
"Can I go buddy, can I go down,  take your shift at the mine?"

Verse 4

C                     C
Gotta get down to the Cumberland mine
C                      F          C
(Gotta get down to the Cumberland mine)
F                     F             F F F C
That's where I mainly spend my time.
C                     C             C C
Make good money, five dollars a day,
F                     F         F C C Am7 Am7 C7/Bb Em
Made any more I might move away.

Verse 5

G   |G   :||x3

Verse 6

G          G           C          G
Lotta poor man got the Cumberland blues,
G        G       C      C
He can't win for losing,
C          C          G                    G Ab A      A         D    D
Lotta poor man got to walk the line        just to pay his union dues,
C       C         D            D        C      G/B   Am7        G
I don't know now, I just don't know,    if I'm goin' back again.
I don't know now, I just don't know,    if I'm goin' back again.
I don't know now, I just don't know,    if I'm goin' back again.