Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow

Subject: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: bfolkemer
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 03:45 PM

Hi folks, I tried to ask this question earlier today, but I don't think the message posted. My apologies if this is a duplicate.

Does anyone have the tune and chords to "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," in the Stanley Bros. or earlier form? All I have is the Peter, Paul and Mary version.

Thank you very much!

Beth

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: Devilmaster
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 05:38 PM

You'll have to search under artist 'soggy bottom boys' but here is a version:

www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/

Hope it helps

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: masato sakurai
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 11:19 PM

A different Emry Arthur version (Para. 3289 (L956))is in Old-Time String Band Songbook (p. 129). The chords are: E7-A-D-E7-A. The recording is in The Music of Kentucky, vol. 2 (Yazoo)
~Masato

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: Rory B
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 11:22 PM

I have the MP3 if that will help?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: 53
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 11:27 PM

soggy bottom boys did a great job on this song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Oct 01 - 08:59 PM

Man of Constant Sorrow
(Medium tempo)

(G)I am a man of constant (C)sorrow
I've seen (D)trouble all my (G)days
I bid farewell to old Ken(C)tucky
The state where (D)I was borned and (G)raised
(The state where he was borned and raised)

For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasure here on earth I find
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now
(He has no friends to help him now)

It's fare thee well my own true lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
(Perhaps he'll die upon this train)

You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave
(While he is sleeping in his grave)

Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you'll never see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
(he 'll meet you on God's golden shore)

Stanley Bros.'s lyrics from here.
Chords from Peter Wernick, Bluegrass Songbook (Oak, 1976, p. 65) (with tab and lyrics, too).

The Baez version (HERE and a version from the Blue Ridge Mountains (HERE) are in DT.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Man of Constant Sorrow
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 16 Oct 01 - 12:02 AM

As an oddity and an aside, there is a very strange, and distinctly plaintive, version of Man of Constant Sorrow on the first Ginger Baker's Air Force album (c. 1970, just after the demise of Blind Faith) with Denny Laine (later of Wings fame) on lead vocals. In his version, Laine it is to Birmingham that Laine bids his farewells... and it is the live audience at the Royal Albert Hall which finds itself on the receiving end of most of the grief and sorrow, which, though intense, is mercifully finite.