When The Levee Breaks

Charlie “Kansas Joe” McCoy & Memphis Minnie

Capo 3 = Bb

[G][G][G] [C7][C7] [G][G] [D][D] [D6] [G]

[G]If it keeps on raining, levee’s goin’ to break

[G]If it [C7]keeps on raining, levee’s going to [G]break

[G]And the [D]water’s gonna come and I’ll have no [D6]place to [G]stay

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[G]All last night I sat on the levee and moaned

[C7]All last night I sat on the levee and [G]moaned

[G]Thinking [D]’bout my baby and my [D6]happy [G]home.

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[G]If i keeps on raining, Levee’s goin’ to break,

If it [C7]keeps on raining, Levee’s goin’ to [G]break

And [D]all these people have no [D6]place to [G]stay

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[G]Now look here mama, what am I to do?

[G]Now [C7]look here mama, what am I to [G]do?

[G]I ain’t [D]got nobody to tell my [D6]troubles [G]to

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[G]I worked on the levee, mama both night and day.

[G]I [C7]worked on the levee, mama both night and [G]day.

[D]Ain’t got nobody to keep the [D6]water a[G]way.

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Solo: [G][G][G] [C7][C7] [G][G] [D][D] [D6] [G]

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[G]Well, cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do no good

[G]Well, [C7]cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do no [G]good

[G]When the [D]levee breaks, mama you [D6]got to [G]move.

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I [G]worked on the levee, Mama both night and day

[C7]Worked on the levee, Mama both night and [G]day

[D]Worked so hard Just to keep the [D6]water [G]away

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[G]I had a woman, She wouldn’t do for me

I [C7]had me a woman, She wouldn’t do for [G]me

I’m [D]goin’ back, To my [D6]used to [G]be

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[G]It’s a mean old levee, caused me to weep and moan.

[G]It’s a [C7]mean old levee, caused me to weep and [G]moan.

[G]Caused me to [D]leave my baby and my [D6]happy [G]home.