Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues

Subject: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: Robbie Goodfellow
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 07:05 PM

Hi
I absolutely love this song by Skip james...
Can anyone help me play it...I am learning the guitar and would love to know how to play it...

Cheers

Robbie

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chor
From: Robbie Goodfellow
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 05:53 AM

Anyone give me a hand please?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 06:52 AM

All I can say is if you are just learning is that I don't believe Skip used regular tuning i.e; EADGBE. But you may already be aware of that. Give it a day or so and I'm sure you will get some more positive help. Most contributors on this site seem to be on line during the working week probably bored with what they are supposed to be doing while "at the office".

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chor
From: Robbie Goodfellow
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 08:49 AM

cheers for that....was wondering if anyone had come up with anything...ive worked out its in a dm tuning but as far as that i have no more info

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 12:00 AM

dang. four years later and i find this thread. i feel like i'm late! ever find the chords?

if i can offer any help, it's that the words are true and unshakeable (or whatever i mean) but the chords could be anything... of course, four years after the fact, maybe you aren't asking this question anymore.

well anyway, do you have a version i could hear? just a curious person hoping to hear your take.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 10:28 AM

The tuning is Open dmin Which is DADFAD And i capo the first fret to get upto skips pitch as he did tune up in his later years. Thats all i can help with as im trying to work it out by ear myself good luck to anyone who finds this in the future hopefully there will be tabs for it or video lessons.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 11:45 AM

If I were just learning guitar, I would avoid anything by Skip James. He played most things in Em open, and had carefully worked out arrangements, which he never varied, as far as I know, so knowing the chords isn't really going to be much help - you need to keep your left hand moving at least as much as your right hand. Good luck anyway if you're still trying.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: Bobert
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 07:44 PM

I do a couple Skip James in double dropped D... Probably no help but, hey...

B~

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Blues chords
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Jan 13 - 11:30 AM

If anyone cares, the correct title of the song is WASHINGTON D.C. HOSPITAL CENTER BLUES. It is on several albums, and on Spotify.

Subject: Lyr Add: WASHINGTON D.C. HOSPITAL CENTER BLUES
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 08:28 AM

I can't help with the chords, but this is a remarkable blues song, and deserves to have its lyrics posted here.


WASHINGTON D.C. HOSPITAL CENTER BLUES
As sung by Skip James on "Vanguard Visionaries" (2007)

Yes, I was a good man, but I was a poor man, you understand.

In a hospital, in Washington D.C. ,
Ain't got nobody, to see about me,
But I was a good man, but I was a poor man; you can understand.

All the doctors, and nurses too
They came and asked me, "Who in the world are you?"
I says, "I's a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."

The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Said, "Take this poor man, and put him to bed,
Because he's a good man; we know he's a poor man; we can understand."

I didn't go hungry; I had a-plenty to eat.
I had good treatment, and a place to sleep,
Because I was a good man; they knew I was a poor man; they could understand.

I met a little dancer; she promised me
That she would love me, and always be sweet.
She find out I was a poor man, yeah, but I was a good man; she couldn't understand.

Now when she left me, she got in the door,
She waved me goodbye; I haven't seen her no more.
She found out I was a good man; she knew I was a poor man; she couldn't understand.

The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Say, "You can go home now, Skip; you's a sound well man,
Because you's a good man; you's a poor man; we can understand."

I taken my doctor, and I shaken his hand.
"I'm gon' play these Hospital Blues, till you's a wealthy man.
You took me; I's a good man; you knowed I was a poor man; you could understand.
You knowed I was a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IajOccpHkQg

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
From: GUEST,Luigi
Date: 18 Jun 25 - 05:07 PM

Dear Jim Dixon, I've occasionally found an alternative transcription of the first two lines of the last verse as:

I thanked my doctor, and I shaken his hand.
"I'm gon' play these Hospital Blues, to tell you's a wealthy man.

Let me know please what do you think about.
Best regards
Luigi

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 19 Jun 25 - 08:38 PM

Thanks Luigi for updooting this.
I've never heard this song before.
Here it can be heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IajOccpHkQg
Thanks Jim for posting the lyrics.
I hope the OP, Robbie, figured out the chords by now.

I'd change the lyrics around a bit. First I'd put the dancer who didn't understand. Because he's poor, so she left. Then he's so downhearted he gets sick and goes to the hospital. They cure him. He promises when he gets rich (from singing this song) that he'll support the hospital.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
From: GUEST,Luigi
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 01:32 AM

Dear Pappy Fiddle,
at        there is the version of "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues"
as by "Skip James Live 1964 & 1966 " and the transcription of the spoken introduction and lyrics .

Spoken

I made two, three pieces in the hospital. I made one in Tunica, Mississippi, when I was first discovered. There was a boys farm in the hospital there. And after I came to Washington, D.C.; after my first trip to Newport at the Folk's Festival, I came back and I made one show here in Philadelphia to The Second Fret. And I had to race on from there to Washington. I was stationed there then, going in the hospital there.
And while I was there, after I began to get a little better, after going through the second operation there at the D.C. General, D.C. Center Hospital there, once and then I was transferred to the D.C. General. And I made, I composed a song there while they were on the bed there, after I got a little bit better, because I didn't have no mind to do anything but just look forward , for a while there. And I composed that song.
So the doctors asked me : “Skip, are you going to make another one in the hospital?” I said : “ Why did you say to make another one?” .I said: “ No, man, every time I compose a hospital song, I have to go back there again. I won't never make another one”.
Excuse me. This is the last one. I'll play this one that I made late in Washington, D.C. there.I may play that one sometimes.
But this is an idea while I'm in this tuning.


Lyrics

1 - I'm in a hospital in Washington, D.C.
I ain't got nobody to see about me.
Because I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man.You can understand.

2 - All the doctors and nurses too,
They come and ask me: “ Who in the world are you?”
I said: “ I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man. You can understand “.

3 - The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
”Take this poor man and put him to bed.
Because he's a good man. We know he's a poor man. I can understand ”

4 - I didn’t go hungry,I had a-plenty to eat.
You had me a good treatment and a nice place to sleep.
Because I was a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand.

5 - There comes a little dancer to see about me.
She promised to love me and always be sweet.
She knew I was a good man. She didn't know I was a poor man.
She could not understand.

6 - Now when she left me, she got in the door,
Waved me bye-bye, "I won't be back no more.
Because you's a good man. I didn't know you was a poor man.
Well, I just can't understand ".

7 - The doctors and the nurses come shaking my hand.
“You can go home now, Skip. You just sound well, man.
Because you's a good man.We know you's a poor man.
We all can understand ".

8 - I've taken my doctor by his hand.
"I'll sing more of these blues till you's a wealthy man.
You took me as a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand. I want the whole world to understand ".

****

May be some mistakes .
Any correction and suggestion will be welcome.
Thank you very much
Best regards
Luigi

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
From: GUEST,Luigi
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 05:29 AM

Video of this version is at :
https://youtu.be/CRocS0jrocs?si=y2lAwJZgFwK2es5y
Yours Sincerely
Luigi