Hard Time Killing Floor Blues

(KCH arrangement)

Words & Music:

Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James

I play this in E/Em, pretty much with no chords, per se – just playing the melody along on the upper strings while keeping time & tone on the lower ones – but include the chords for you. Play around with this one to find what suits you best. It's a great one for that!

G Em G/D Em

Hard time here and everywhere you go.

G Em Bm E

Times is harder than ever been before. Mmmmmm.

[orig: Hell is hotter than it been before]

And the people are driftin' from door to door.

Can't find no heaven, I don't care where they go. Mmmmmm.

Hear me tell you people, just before I go.

These hard times will kill you just dry long so. Mmmmmm.

Well, you hear me singin' my lonesome song.

These hard times can last us so very long. Mmmmmm.

If I ever get off this killin' floor,

I'll never get down this low no more.

No-no, no-no, I'll never get down this low no more

And you say you had money, you better be sure.

'Cause these hard times will drive you from door to door. Mmmmmm.

Sing this song and I ain't gonna sing no more.

These hard times will drive you from door to door. Mmmmmm.

INTRO RIFF:

G :0-----------------------|

D :--2-4-2-0---------------|

A :2---------2-4-2---------|

E :----------------3-2-0---| [can also be 3-5-0]

"SIGNATURE RIFF"

B:----------------------------3-|------------------------------|

G:-----2 p.o. 1-------2 sl. 4---|-----2 p.o. 1-----------------|[repeat 2x, then

D:--------------2---------------|--------------2---------------|do either 3-2-0

A:------------------------------|--------------------0 h.o. 2--|or 3-5-0 on low E]

E:-0-0------------0-0-----------|-0-0------------0-0-----------|