#--------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# #This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the # #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship or research.# #----------------------------------------------------------------------------# Song title: Hell Hound on My Trail Original Album: - (single) (78rpm recording) Other Albums: King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961) Hellhound on My Trail (2004) The Complete Recordings (1990) Words and Music by Robert Johnson Copyright © 1937 Vocalion Records and 1961 Columbia Records Published by Sony Music Publishing Ltd Transcribed by Gavin Chart (contactus@gartfrets.net) NOTES: RJ's tuning is Open Em (EBDGBE). You might get away with tuning up the 5th string to B. Alternatively, tune to Open Dm (DACFAD) and capo on 2. If you capo, usual rules apply. Key to tab ---------- h - hammer-on b - bend / - slide up |-3-| - triplet INTRO: 2/4 E7 Edim7 Am |-3-| |-4---4---4---0---0---3---0---0---|-0---0---0h2-0---| |-3---3---3-------2---2---2---0---|-1---1---1---0---| |-4-------4-------3-------3-------|-2-------2---0___| |---------------------------------|-----------------| |---------------------------------|-----------------| |---------------------------------|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 4/4 E E7/D A/C# Am/C E7 |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-----0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---|-0---0---0---0---0---0-----------| |---------0---------------0-------|-2h3-3---3---2---3---------------| |_1-------------------------------|-0-2-----1-------1---------------| |-----------------0-------0---0---|-------------------------0_______| |---------3-------2-------1-------|-0---------------0-------0_______| |-0-------------------------------|-0---0---0-------0-------0_______| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | I VERSE1: E B7 |-7-------7---0-------------------|-5---5---5-------2-----------5---| |-8b------8b----8b-----------r8---|-6b------6b--3b--3b----------6b--| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | got to keep movin', I've got to keep movin' E |-5b------5b------0---------------|---------0---0---0---0---0-------| |-6b------6b-r6-----------0-------|---------0-----------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|-0-----------0-------------------| |---------------------------------|---------3-------2-------0-------| |---------------------------------|---------0---------------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | blues fallin' down like hail. Blues fallin' down like E7 |-3-| |-3-| |-----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0---| |-----------2-3---3---------2-3---|-3-------2---3-----------2-------| |-----------------1---------------|-1-------1---------------0-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------|-0---------------0---------------| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------|-0-------0-------0---------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | hail Mmm,___ 3/4 ~~~~~~~~~ |-0---3---3---3b--0-------0-------|-0-----------------------| |-------------------------5b------|-5-------2-------0-------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - | ___________________ blues fallin' down like hail 4/4 E E7/D A/C# Am/C E E7 A/C# |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|-----0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---| |---------0---------------0-------|---------------------------2/3---| |(0)------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-----------------0-------0-------|---------0-------0-------0-------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|---------3-------2-------2-------| |-0-------0-----------------------|-0-----------------------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Blues fallin' down like hail_____ E7 B7 |-0---0---0---0-------------------|---------2-----------------------| |-3---3---2---3-------------------|---------------------------------| |-1-------1-----------------------|---------2-------3b--------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------0-------|-0---------------------------0---| |-0-------0-------0------/7-------|-7-----------------------0--/5---| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | And the day, it keeps on worryin' me E E7/D A/C# Am/C |-3-| |---------2-----------------------|-0-------0-0-0---0---0---0---0---| |-----------------3b------0-------|-----------2-2-------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|---------3-------2-------1-------| |-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | It's a hell hound on my trail, hell hound on my trail E E7/D A/C# Am/C E7 |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-----0-------0-------0---0h2-0---|(0)--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---| |---------0-0---------------------|-----------2-3---3-------2---3---| |-----------------1---------------|-----------------1---------------| |-----------------0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Hell hound on my trail |-0---0---0---0-------0-----------| |---3-----------------------------| |-----------------1---------------| |-----------------0-------0-------| |-0-------0-------0---------------| |-0-------0-------0---------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | If today VERSE2: E B7 |-7b--7b--7b--7b--7b----------5---|-5b------5b--5b--0-----------5b--| |-8b--8b--8b--8b--8b--------------|-6b------6b--6b--6b------6---6b--| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | was Christmas Eve, if today was Christmas Eve, E E7/D A/C# E7 |-3-| |-3-| |-5b------5-------------------0---|(0)------0-0-0---0---0---0-0-0---| |-6b----------7---7-----------0---|(0)--------0-------------0-0-3---| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------0-------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------3-------2-------2-------| |---------------------------------|-0-----------------------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | and tomorrow was Christmas Day |-0---0---0---0---0---0-------0---|-0-------3b--3b--0---------------| |-3-------2-------3-----------2---|-2-------------------------------| |-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------0-------|-----------------------------0---| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------|----------------------------/5---| |-0-------0-------0---------------|-------------------------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | If today was Christmas Eve ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ |---------------------0-------0---|-0---------------0--*0-----------| |---------------------------------|-5------------------*5-----------| |-------------------------0-------|-6-------6-------6--*6-----------| |-0-------0-----------------------|-5-------5-------5---------------| |-5-------5-------3-------2-------|-0---0---0---0---0-------5-------| |-----------------0---------------|-------------------------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | and tomorrow wa Christmas Day [Spoken: Aow, wouldn't we have a time, babe? E7 B7 |-3-| |(0)--0---0---0-------------------|---------2-----------------------| |---2-3---3---3-------------------|-----------------3b--3b----------| |-------------1-------------------|---------2-----------------------| |-0---------------0---------------|---------------------------------| |---------0-------0-----------0---|-0---------------------------0---| |---------0-------0-------0--/7---|-------------------------0--/7---| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | All I would need my little sweet rider just 3/4 4/4 E7/D A/C# Am/C |---------2-------2-------|---------0---0---0---0---0---0---| |-------------0-----------|-0-------0---0-------------------| |-------------------------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------|---------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-----------------------|---------3-------2-------1-------| |-------------------------|-0-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | to pass the time a - way Huh huh. E E7/D A/C# Am/C E/B E7 |-3-| |-----0---0---0---0-------0---0---|-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---| |---------0-----------------------|-----------2-----3-------2---3---| |-1---------------1-------0-------|---------------------------------| |-----------------0-------0-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------3-------2-------1-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|-----------------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | to pass the time a - way VERSE3: 2/4 |-----------------| |-----------------| |-1---------------| |-0-----------0---| |-0----------/5---| |-0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | You sprinkled 4/4 3/4 E |---------------------------------|-------------------------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| |-------------------------0-------|-0-----------------------| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------|-0-------0---------------| |-5-------5-------5-------5-------|-4-------3-------2-------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - | hot foot powder mmm, around my door, 4/4 E7/D A/C# Am/C E/B E7 |-3-| |-3-| |---------0---------------0-0-0---|-0-------0---0---0---0---0---0---| |---------0-----------------------|-----------2-3---3-------2---3---| |-----------------0h1-----0-------|-1-------------------------------| |-----------------0-------0-------|-0-------0-----------------------| |-0-------3-------2-------1-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|-----------------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | all around my door.____________ 2/4 |-0---0-----------| |-------------2---| |-----------------| |-----------------| |-0-------0-------| |-0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | You sprinkled 4/4 3/4 |-0-------3b--3b--0---------------|---------------------------------| |-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|-0-------0-------0---------------| |-----------------------------0---|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |----------------------------/5---|-5-------5---4---3-------2-------| |-------------------------0-------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | hot foot powder all around you daddy's door, E7/D A/C# Am/C E/B E7 |-3-| |-----0---0-------0-------0---0---|-----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---| |---------0-----------------------|-----------2-3---3-------2---3---| |---------------------------------|-------------------------0-------| |---------0-------0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|---------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Hmm, hmm, hmm.___________ 2/4 |-----------------| |-----------------| |-----0-----------| |-----------------| |---------0-------| |-0---------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | It keep me with a 4/4 B7 |---------2-----------------------|---------2-------------------0---| |-----------------3b--------------|-----------------3b------0-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------------------0---|-0-----------------------0-------| |/7---------------------------3---|/7-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | ramblin' mind, rider,_____ ev'ry old place I go E E7/D A/C# Am/C E E7/D A/C# Am/C |-3-| |-----0---0-------0---0---0---0---|(0)--0---0---0---0---0---0-0-0---| |---------0-----------------------|---------0-------0-----------0---| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------0-------0---------------|-----------------0-------0-------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|---------3-------2-------1-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | ev'ry old place I go_______________ E7 |-0---0---0---0---0---0-----------| |-3---3---2---3---3---3-----------| |---------0-----------------------| |---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | I can't tell VERSE4: E |-7b------7b------0-----------5---|-5b------5b--------------0-------| |-8b------8b----------------------|-6b------6b------7---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------0-------|(0)------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | the wind is risin' the leaves tremblin' on the tree, E7/D A/C# Am/C |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |---------0-------0-------0-------|---------0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---| |---------5-------5-------5-------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------3-------2-------1-------| |-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | tremblin' on the tree,____________________ 2/4 E/B E7 |-3-| |-3-| |-0-------0---0---0-------0---0---|-----0-----------| |---2/3---3---3-----2/3---3---3---|-----------------| |---------1---------------1-------|----(0)----------| |---------------------------------|---------0-------| |-0-------0-------2-------0-------|-0---------------| |---------0-------0-------0-------|-0---------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | I can tell 4/4 |-0-----------3b--3b--0-------0---|-0-------------------------------| |----------------------------/5---|-5-------5\4-----2-------0-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------0-------|(0)------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | the wind is risin' leaves tremblin' on the tree E7/D A/C# Am/C E/B E E7 |-3-| |-----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---0-0-0---0---0---| |---------------------------------|-----------------3-3-3---3-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------0---------------0-------|-0-------------------------------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------| |-0-------------------------------|---------0-------0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Hmm, hmm, hmm._________________ 2/4 |-----0-----------| |-----------------| |-1---------------| |-0---------------| |-0-----------0---| |-0-------0-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | All I 4/4 B7 |---------2-----------------------|---------2-----------------------| |-----------------3b--------------|-----------------3b------0-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|-0-------------------------------| |-0-------0---------------x---0---|-0-------0-----------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | need's my little sweet woman and to keep my company E E7/D A/C# Am/C E E7/D A/C# Am/C |-3-| |---------0---0---0-------0---0---|-----0-----0-0---0---0---0---0___| |(0)------------------------------|---------0-------------------0___| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------0-------0---------------|-------------------------0-------| |---------3-------2-------1-------|---------3-------2-------1-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Hey,_______________________________ my company E7 |__---0---0-------0-------0-------|-0-------------------------------| |__-------2/3-----3-------2-/-3---|-3-------------------------------| |-----------------1---------------|---------------------------------| |-------------0---0---------------|-0-------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------0-----------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - |