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CAT-033
Traditional repertoire
Worried Man Blues
A restless old-time song of shackles, a departing train, and troubles that may yet pass.
Source research
Documented lineage
- Earliest evidence
- Early twentieth-century traditional/commercial country sources
- Aliases / index
- Worried Man Blues
- Working arrangement
- Key G · Capo 5 · Banjo - Standard · 4/4 time · 118 BPM (working)
- Chord marks are incomplete in the later verses. Confirm the repeated progression before using this as a performance chart.
Lyrics + partial chord notes
Working song sheet
Chorus: It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song, I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long. Verse: I went across the river, laid down to sleep, I went across the river, I laid down to sleep, When I woke up, there were shackles on my feet. Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg, Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg, And on each link, the initial of my name. Chorus: It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song, I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long. Verse: I asked the judge what might be my fine, I asked the judge what might be my fine, twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain Line. The train arrived, sixteen coaches long, The train arrived, sixteen coaches long, the girl I love is on that train and gone. Chorus: It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song, I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long. Verse: If anyone asks you who composed this song, if anyone asks you who composed this song, tell him 'twas I and I sing it all day long.
Archive note
This is a working band sheet. Lyrics, repeats, and chord placement remain subject to the band’s final review.
Chords
G · C · D