#--------------------------------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: If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day Original Album: - (single) (78rpm recording) Other Albums: King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961) The Complete Recordings (1990) Words and Music by Robert Johnson Copyright © 1936 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 A (EAEAC#E) tuned down a half-step (Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb). However, I would recommend Open G (DGDGBD) + capo 1. If you have the version on The Complete Recordings, it may require capo-ing up another fret. Indicated chords are implied tonality. Timing is as indicated in each section. Key to tab ---------- b - bend / - slide up \ - slide down _ - tied note x - mute note ~ - vibrato |-3-| - triplet INTRO: 4/4 G G7/F C/E Cm/Eb |--3---| |--3---| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |/12-12-12-12-12-12-/12------12\-----|---------------------------------| |/12-12-12-12-12-12-/12------12\-0---|---------------------------------| |--------------------------------0---|-----0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---| |------------------------------------|---------3-3-3---2-2-2---1-1-1---| |--------------------0---------------|---------------------------------| |------------------------------------|-1-------3-------2-------1-------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 5/4 G/D G ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |-----0-------5---------------------------| |-----0-----------------------------------| |-----------------------------------------| |-0-----------------------------------0---| |-0-------x-------0---0---0---0---0---0---| |-0-------3-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - 5 - & - | If I VERSE1: 4/4 G |-3-| |/5---5---5---5---5---5---5-------|----/5---5---5--/3---------------| |/5---5---5---5---5---5---5-0-0---|----/5---5---5--/3---------------| |-------------------------0-0-0---|-0-------------------------------| |---------------------------0-0---|-0-------------------------------| |---------------------------0-----|---------------------------------| |-------------------------3-0-----|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | had possession o - ver Judge - ment |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------0-----------|-----0-/-3-----------------------| |-----0-/-3---0-------0-------0---|-----0-/-3-----------0-------0---| |-0----------------------/5---0---|-0-----------0---0---0-/-4---0---| |-0-----------------------------0-|-0-------------x-0-------------x-| |---------------3-3---------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Day 2/4 |-----0---0---0-------------------|-----8b----------| |---------------------0-------0---|------------/5---| |-----0-/-3---0---0---0-------0---|-----0---0--/5---| |-0---------------0---0-/-4---0---|-0-------0--/5---| |-----------------0-------------0-|-0---------------| |---------------4-----------------|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | If I had 4/4 C ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |---------------------------------|-------------5---5-------5\------| |-5---5---5---5---5---5---5\-/5-5-|-5---5---5-----------------------| |-5---5---5---5---5---5---5\-/5-5-|-5-------------------------------| |-5---5---5---5---5---5---5\-/5-5-|-5-------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | pos - ses - sion over Judgement Day,____ G |---------2\1-0-------------------|---------------------------------| |-----0---2\1-0-------------------|-----0--/3--/3---------------0---| |---------------------0-------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---| |---------------x-0---0-/-4---0---|-0-------------------0-/-4-------| |-0---------------0-------------0-|-0-------------------0-----------| |---------------------------------|-------------------4-----------x-| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 6/4 D |-------------------------------------------------| |-------------------------------------------------| |-----0----------/7---7---7-----------------------| |-0---0---0---0--/7---7---7-------7-------7-------| |-0-------0---0--/7-------7---7---7---7---7---0---| |-------------------------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - 5 - & - 6 - & - | Lord, the little woman I'm lovin' wouldn't 4/4 C G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|-----0--/3---0-------0-------0---| |/5-------5-----------------------|-0---------------0------/4---0-0-| |/5---5---5---5---5---5---5-\-0---|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------4-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | have no right to pray |-------------0-------------------|---------------------------------| |-----0-------0---------------0---|-----0--/3--/3---------------0---| |-----0--/3-----0-----0-------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---| |-0---------------0---0--/4-----0-|-0-------------------0--/5---0---| |-0---------------0---------------|-0-------------------0-----------| |---------------------------------|-------------------3-------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | VERSE2: 6/4 G |-----0------/12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--10--| |------------/12--12--12--12------12--12--12------| |-------------------------------------------------| |-0-----------------------------------------------| |-0-------0---------------------------------------| |-------------------------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - 5 - & - 6 - & - | And I went to the mountain lookin' 4/4 |-12--12--12--12--12--12--12\-0---|---------------------------------| |-12--12--12--12----------12\-0---|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|-----0-/-4---4---------------0---| |---------------------------------|---------------x-0---0-/-4---0---| |---------------------------------|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | far as the eye could see |-----0--/3--/3---0---------------|-----0--/3--/3---0---------------| |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|-----0--/3--/3-------------------| |-----0--/3--/3---0---0-------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0---0-------0---| |-0-------------------0-/-4---0---|-0-------------------0-/-4---0---| |-0-------------------0-----------|-0-------------------0-----------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 2/4 4/4 |-----0------/12--|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--| |-----------------|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--| |-----------------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |-----------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | |-12--12--12--12--12--12--12------|---------------------------------| |-12--12--12--12--12--12--12------|---------------------------------| |-------------------------------0-|-----0-/-4---4---------------0---| |-----------------------------0-0-|-0-------------x-0---0-/-4---0---| |-----------------------------0-0-|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|-0-------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 2/4 |-----0--/3--/3---0---------------|-----------------| |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|-----0-----------| |-----0--/3--/3---0---0-------0---|-----0-----------| |-0-------------------0-/-4---0---|-0-------0---0---| |-0-------------------0-----------|-0-------0---0---| |---------------------------------|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | Some other 4/4 D C |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |----/7--/7---/7--/7--7\----------|---------------------------------| |----/7--/7---/7--/7--7\----------|---------5-------5---------------| |----/7--/7---/7--/7--7\--0---0---|/5--/5---5---5---5---0---0-------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | man got my woman and the' - a lonesome blues got G |-----0---------------------------|-------------0-------------------| |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|-----0--/3-------------------0---| |-----0--/3--/3-------0-------0---|-0---0--/3---0-------0-------0---| |-0---------------0---0--/4---0---|-0---------------0---0-------0---| |-0---------------0---------------|-----------------0---0--/4---0---| |---------------3-----------------|---------------4-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | me 2/4 |-----0---------------------------|-----0-0-----0---| |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|-----0-0-----0---| |-----0--/3--/3---0---0-------0---|-0---0-0-----0---| |-0-------------------0--/4---0---|-0---0-0-0-------| |-0-----------------------------0-|-0-------0-------| |-------------------3-------------|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | And I____ VERSE3: G |---------------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-0-----------------------0-------------|-----0---------------------------| |-0-----------0-------0-------0-0-0-0-0-|-0---0-----------0---------------| |-0-------0-------0-----------0-0-0-0-0-|-0---0-----------0---------------| |-0-------------------------------------|-----0---------------------------| |-0-----------------------0-------------|-----0---------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night |----/12--12--12------------------|---------------------------------| |----/12--12--12------------------|-----0--/3--/3-------------------| |-----------------12--12\/4---0---|-----0--/3--/3---0---0-------0---| |---------------------------------|---------------------0--/5-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0---------------0------/5-------| |-------------------------------4-|---------0---0-----------------0-| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | long 2/4 |---------------------------------|-----------------| |-----0--/3---3---0---0-----------|-------------5-5-| |-----0--/3---3---0---0-------0---|-----0---0---5-5-| |-0-------------------0--/5---0---|-0---0---0---5---| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------0-------| |-------------------------------x-|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | And I C |-----5---7---5-------7---5-------|-----8---7---5-------7---5-------| |-5---5---5---5---5---5---5-----5-|-5---5---5---5---5---5---5-------| |-5-------5---5---5-------5--/5-5-|-5---5---5---5---5-------5---0-0-| |-5---------------5-------5--/5---|-5---------------5-----------0-0-| |---------------------------------|-0-------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | rolled and I turned and I cried the whole night G |---------------------------------|-----0--/3-----------------------| |-----0--/3-------------------0---|-----0--/3---0-------0-------0---| |-----0--/3---0-------0-------0---|-----0--/3---0-------0-------0---| |-0---------------0---0-/-5-------|-0---------------0---0-/-5---0---| |-0---------------0---------------|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------4---------------x-|---------------x---------------x-| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | long 2/4 4/4 D |-----------------|-----10--0---7---10--9---7-------| |-------------7---|-7---7---7---7---7---7---7---3-4-| |-----0-------7---|-7---7---7-------7---7---7---3-4-| |-0---0---0---7---|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |-----------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Boy I woke up this mornin' |-----8---7---7---5---------------|---------------------------------| |-5---5---5---7---5---5-----------|---------3-------------------0---| |-5---5---5---5---5---5-----------|-----0---3---0-------0-------0---| |-5-------5-------5-------5---0---|-0---------------0---0--/4-----0-| |-0-------0-------0-------0-------|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------4-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | my biscuit roller gone._________________________ |-----0-------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------| |-----0--/3---0---------------0---|-------------0---------------0---| |-0---0--/3---0-0-----0-------0---|-----0---------------0-------0---| |-0---------------0---0--/4---0---|-0---0--/3-------0---0--/4-------| |-----------------0---------------|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------4---------------4-| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | VERSE4: 2/4 4/4 G |-------------10/-|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12-p10--| |-------------10/-|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12------| |-----------------|-----------------12--------------| |-0-------0-------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------|-----------------0---------------| |-----------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Had to fold my arms and I____ |-12--12--12--12--12--------------|---------------------------------| |-12--12--12--12--12--12----------|-------------0---------------0---| |-------------------------12\-----|-----0--/3---0-------0-------0---| |-------------------------------0-|-0---------------0---0--/4-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0---------------0---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------4-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | slowly walked a - way 2/4 |-----0---------------------------|-----------------| |-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---|-----------------| |-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---|-----------------| |-0-------------------0--/4-----x-|-0---x-x-0-------| |-0-------------------------------|-0-------0--/3---| |---------------------------------|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | I____ said 4/4 C D C |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |-----5-------5---5---5-----------|/7--/7-----------5-----5---------| |-----5---5---5---5---5---0--/5---|/7--/7--/7-------5-----5-----0---| |-----------------5---------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | in my mind, "Yo' trouble gon' come, some G |-------------0-------------------|-----0--/3--/3-------------------| |-------------0---------------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0---------------| |-----0---3-----------0-------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---| |-0---0-----------0------/4-------|-0-----------------0-0--/4---0-x-| |-0---------------0---------------|-0-------------------0-----------| |---------------4---------------4-|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | day 2/4 |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|-----0------/12--| |-----0--/3--/3-------------------|------------/12--| |-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---|-----------------| |-0---------------0---0--/4---0---|-0-------0-------| |-0-------------------0-----------|-0-------0-------| |-------------------------------x-|-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - | Now__ run VERSE5: 4/4 G |-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--|/12--12--12-/12--12--12--12\-----| |-12--12--12--12--12--12--12------|/12--12--12-/12--12--12--12\-----| |---------------------------------|-----12----------12--------------| |---------------------------------|-----------------------------0---| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | here, ba - by, set down on my |-------------0-------------------|--------/3--/3-------------------| |-------------0---------------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0---------------| |-----0---3-----------0-------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---| |-0---0-----------0------/4-------|-0-------------------0--/4---0---| |-0---------------0---------------|-0-------------------0---------0-| |---------------4---------------4-|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | knee 2/4 4/4 * position slide on imaginary fret G * |-----0-------0---|-25--24--24--24--24--24--24--24--| |-----------------|-25--24--24--24--24--24--24------| |---------0-------|---------------------------------| |-0---------------|---------------------------------| |-0---------------|---------------------------------| |-----------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | Now,_____ run here, ba - by * |-24--23--23--22--20\-17\-14\-10/-|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12\-----| |-24--23--23--22--20\-----14\-10/-|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12\-----| |---------------------------------|-12--------------12--12--12\-----| |---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-| |---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | set down on my, on my knee.________________________ |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |--------/3--/4---0---------------|-----0--/3--/3-------------------| |-----0--/3--/4---0-----------0---|-----0--/3--/3---0-----------0---| |-0---0-----------0------/4-----0-|-0---------------0---0--/4---0---| |-0-------------------0-----------|-0-------------------0-----------| |---------------------------------|-------------------------------4-| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 2/4 4/4 D |-----------------|---------------------------------| |-----------------|---------------------------------| |-----0-----------|---------------------------------| |-0-------0-------|/7-----------7---7---7-----------| |-0-------0---0---|/7---7---7---7---7---7---7---0---| |-----------------|---------------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | I want to tell you a - bout the C G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------------------------------|--------/3---0-------------------| |---------------------------------|-----0--/3---0-------------------| |/5-------5---5---5---5---5---0---|-0---------------0-----------0---| |/5---5---5---5---5---5---5-------|-0---------------0---0--/3-------| |---------------------------------|---------------3-----------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | way they treated me.__ G7/F C/E Cm/Eb G/D G ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |---------------------------------|-------------5---5---------------| |---------------------------------|---------------------------------| |---------0---0---0---0-------0______-------------------------------| |---------3-------2---1-------1---|-0-------0-----------------------| |-0-------------------------------|---------0-------0---------------| |---------3-------2---1-----------|----/3---------------------------| | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - | 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & - |