Bye And Bye, I'm Going To See The King

Words & Music:

Blind Willie Johnson

 

I discovered this song via Catfish Keith's Homespun Tapes instructional DVD, but it is also on his "Rolling Sea" album.  Like many early blues songs, you tune your guitar to an open key and keep a drone going on the I chord while you play the melody (or improvise a countermelody) above it with your fingers & a bottleneck.  To play the IV chord, slide your barre finger or the slide up 5 frets & play over that drone.

 

I

I said, bye and bye, I'm going to see the King.

IV

Bye and bye, I am going to see the King.

I

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

I said, bye and bye, I'm going to see the King.

Bye and bye, I am going to see the King.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

You know after death, you have got to go by yourself.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

I said, bye and bye, I'm going to see the King.

Bye and bye, I am going to see the King.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

Bye and bye, I will hear the angel sing.

Bye and bye, I will hear the angel sing.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

You know after death, you have got to stand your test.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 

I said, bye and bye, I'm going to see the King.

Bye and bye, I am going to see the King.

And I don't mind dying, I'm a child of God.

 


Catfish Keith's version:

He tunes to Open D (D A D F# A D) and lowers that a full step to Open C (C G C E G C) to get both that full throaty sound and strings that love to bend.  Don't worry about the number of bars for the I or IV chords, just let the spirit move you and play it.

 

I

I said, bye and bye, I'm gonna see the King.

IV               I

Bye and bye... [play melody line over drone].

I

Bye and bye, I'm gonna see the King.

I

And I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

I

And I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

 

I

Tell me, baby, we're in the middle of the..., we're in the middle of the...,

We're in the middle of the wheel.

IV                              I

Getting back there, baby, now.  Getting back...

Getting back...we're in the middle of the wheel.

And I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

And I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

 

Wouldn't mind dying, wouldn't mind dying.

Wouldn't mind dying, got to go by myself.

Wouldn't mind dying, wouldn't mind dying.

Wouldn't mind dying, got to go by myself.

 

Holy Roller, Holy Ghost is His...

Holy Ghost is His..., Holy Ghost is His...

IV                    I

Holy Roller, now...  [play melody over drone]

Holy Roller, Holy Ghost is His Name.

I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

Wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

 

I said, bye and bye, I'm gonna see the King, gonna see the King.

IV               I

Bye and bye... [play melody line over drone].

I

Bye and bye, I'm gonna see the King.

I

And I wouldn't mind dying, 'cause I'm a child of God.

I

And I wouldn't mind dying at all, 'cause I'm a child of God.

 





Back to the Songbook Index.

This page's content is copyrighted ©1977-2008 by Kristin C. Hall. Please drop me a line (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") if you wish to use it or link to it or correct it! Please send comments, suggestions, fixes and general mischievious mayhem to the web diva via the above email address. (sorry, spambots have forced me to remove my automatic mail link.) Many thanks...and enjoy! tr

Note to lawyers and any other litigious-minded folk:
I am not trying to screw anyone out of royalties, etc. I have posted these only as a helpful resources for teachers, camp counselors and people who like to "sing along with Mitch", if you will. If you do not want your work posted to these pages, please just email me (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") and I shall remove it.