32-20 Blues

Written by 
Robert Johnson
Released on 
The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs (2008)
Tabbed by 
Eyolf Østrem

Recorded 1993 for World Gone Wrong, and released on Tell Tale Signs (2008)

Capo 2nd fret (sounding key F# major)

The E riff is usually played in a low position at the end of every line, and in one of the high-position forms (or simplified to simple strumming on a single chord) while singing.

Towards the end of the song, the A7 in the third line becomes less and less pronounced, sometimes disappearing completely.

The E-riff

Between lines:

   :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .      :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .    
||-----------------|-----------------||-----------------|-----------------||
||-----------------|-----------------||-----------------|-----------------||
||-----------------|-----------------||-----1---0-1---0-|-1---1---0-1-----||
||-----2---0-2---0-|-2---2---0-2-----||-----2---0-2---0-|-2---2---0-2-----||
||-----2---0-2---0-|-2---2---0-2-----||-----------------|-----------------||
||-0---------------|-----------------||-0---------------|-----------------||

While singing

   :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .      :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .    
||-----------------|-----------------||-----4---3-4---3-|-4---4---3-4-----||
||-----9-----------|-----------------||-----3---2-3---2-|-3---3---2-3-----||
||-----9---7-9---7-|-9---9---7-9-----||-----------------|-----------------||
||-----9---7-9---7-|-9---9---7-9-----||-----------------|-----------------||
||-----------------|-----------------||-----------------|-----------------||
||-0---------------|-----------------||-0---------------|-----------------||
Chords 
E       022100 alt. with 0000xx
        07999x alt. with 07777x
        0xx434 alt. with xxxx23
A7      x02223 (or plain x02220)
        sometimes played as an A7sus4 x02233
B7      xx4445

E When I send for my baby, man, and she don’t come A7 E Send for my baby, man, and she don’t come B7 A7 E All the doctors in Hot Springs sure ain’t gonna help her none

If she gets unruly, thinks she don't want you
If she gets unruly and thinks she don't want you
Take my 32-20 now and break her half in two

She got a .38 special, but I believe it's much too light
She got a .38 special, but I believe it's much too light
I got a 32-30, makes the camp all right

If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
Send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure ain't gonna help her none

Gonna shoot my pistol, shoot my Gatling gun
Gonna shoot my pistol, got to shoot my Gatling gun
You made me love you, now your man has come

Aw baby, where'd you stay last night?
Aw baby, where'd you stay last night?
You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right

Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
I got a 32-20 now it's a burning hell

If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
Send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in [...] sure ain't gonna help her none

Hey hey baby, where'd you stay last night?
Hey hey baby, where'd you stay last night?
Didn't come home till the sun was shining bright

Oh boys, I just can't take my rest
Oh boys, I just can't take my rest
With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast

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