Telephone Wire

Written by 
Bob Dylan
Released on 
(More or Less) Electric Bob, 1965–75
Tabbed by 
Eyolf Østrem

Recorded May 1, 1970 (George Harrison session), presumably improvised on the spot.

Plain 12-bar blues, with this little riff played a few times as an intro, and wherever there is an A:

  Ab
  :     .     .     .       :     .     .     .
|-------5-----3-----------|-------------------------|
|(2)----------------------|-5-----3-----------------|
|(2)----------------------|-----------5-------2-----|
|(2)----------------------|-------------------------|
|-0-----------------------|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|-------------------------|

Or with this variation:

  A
  :     .     .     .       :     .     .     .
|-------5-----3-----------|-5---3-------------------|
|-------------------------|-------5---3-------------|
|-------------------------|-------------5---2-------|
|-------------------------|-------------------------|
|-0-----------------------|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|-------------------------|

That’s just about all there is to say.

A                                                          [riff]
Wonderin', I'm Wonderin', when will my swamp catch on fire
    D                                                   A  [riff]
I'm wonderin', I'm wonderin: Is my swamp gonna catch on fire
E                            E7                A           [riff] x 2
Sittin' here lookin' at that old bad telephone wire.

Well, I'm goin' to Las Vegas, goin' by the evening sun
I'm goin' to Las Vegas, goin' just as fast as I can run
Gonna win some money, give it to my hon.

Contact

Corrections, additions, questions? Contact me