Tom: Am
C F F#dim C Am D7 F C F
[verse 1]
C C/G Am D7 F G
Bessie was more than just a friend of mine
C E Am D7 F
We shared the good times with the bad
C C/G Am D7 F G
Now many a year has passed me by
C E Am F
I still recall the best thing I ever had
[chorus]
C F
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
C G
Oh, See her soon
C F F#dim
Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
C Am D7 F C F
When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do
[verse 2]
C C/G Am D7 F G
Now all the crazy things I had to try
C E Am D7 F
Well I tried them all and then some
C C/G Am D7 F G
But if you're lucky one day you find out
C E Am F
Where it is you're really comin' from
[chorus]
C F
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
C G
Oh, See her soon
C F F#dim
Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
C Am D7 F C F
When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do
[verse 3]
C C/G Am D7 F G
Now in my day I've made some foolish moves
C E Am D7 F
But back then, I didn't worry 'bout a thing
C C/G Am D7 F G
And now again I still wonder to myself
C E Am F
Was it her sweet love or the way that she could sing
[chorus]
C F
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
C G
Oh, See her soon
C F F#dim
Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
C Am D7 F C F
When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do
[verse 4]
C C/G Am D7 F G
There's so much time has gone right on by
C E Am D7 F
I didn't think one could be so wrong
C C/G Am D7 F G
And then one night I was drinkin' and a-thinkin'
C E Am F
In the bottom of the glass I could see Bessie's face so strong
[chorus]
C F
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
C G
Oh, See her soon
C F F#dim
Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
C Am D7 F C F
When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do
[verse 5]
C C/G Am D7 F G
When she sees me will she know what I've been through?
C E Am D7 F
Will old times start to feelin' like new?
C C/G Am D7 F G
When I get there will our love still feel so true?
C E Am F G
Yet all I have, I'll be a-bringin' it to you
C E Am F
Oh Bessie, sing them old-time blues
[chorus]
C F
I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie
C G
Oh, See her soon
C F F#dim
Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith
C Am D7 F C F
When I get there I'm wondering what she'll do
