Guitar Blues and Rags

with Rick McKeon

Once you have the Alternating Thumb down solid it’s time
to start playing some of these wonderful old
Blues and Ragtime Tunes!

Here are four great old standards plus my original

ragtime tune called, “No Money Rag.” Hope you like them!

Lessons include:
Fishin’ Blues (Drop D)
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (Standard Tuning)
Hard Time Killin’ Floor (Open Dm)
Come Back Baby (Standard Tuning)
No Money Rag (Standard Tuning)
 Table of Contents

Fishin’ Blues - Tab 3

Fishin’ Blues - Lyrics 5
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – Tab 6
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – Lyrics 9
Hard Time Killin’ Floor – Tab 11
Hard Time Killin’ Floor – Tab with Phrases 13
Hard Time Killin’ Floor – Lyrics 15
Come Back Baby – Tab 16
Come Back Baby – Lyrics 18
No Money Rag – Tab 19
No Money Rag – Lyrics 21

2
 Fishin' Blues
Henry Thomas
D G D

BASIC VERSION

2 2 0 2 5 2 0 2 5 0 0
[P] 3 [P] 3 0 3 3
4 [H]
4 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 4
0 0 0 0 5 5 0

Bet you're goin' fishin' all of the time, Baby goin' fishin' too.

D E7

5
2 2 0 2 5 2 0 2 5 0 0
[P] 3 [P] 3 3 3 2 3 4 5
0 0 0 0 2 2
2 2 4 5 6 7
0 0 0 0

Bet your life your sweet wife, Will catch more fish than you.

D G D
5

9
7 5 0 0
7 5 5 7 5 7 3 0 3 3 3
[P] 7 7 [H] 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0

Any fish bites if you got good bait. Here's a little tip I would like to relate. Any

13
2 0 2 5 2 0 0 2 0 0 2
0 3 [P] [P] 3 0 3 0 [P] 3 0 3
[P] [P]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

fish bites if you got good bait. I'm a-goin' fishin, Yes I'm goin' fishing,

Rev. 6/22/13 Page 1/2

3
 D

VARIATION

17
0 0 2 2 0 2 5 2 0 2 5 0
[P] 3 0 3 3 [P] 3 [P]
[P]
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

And my baby goin' fishin' too. I went down to my favorite fishin hole

G D D
5

1
21
0 5 5
3 0 3 3 3 7 7 5 7 7 5 7
[H] [S] [P] [P]
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 4
5 5 0 0 0 0 0

Grabbed me a pole and line. Throwed my pole on in, caught a 9-pound catfish and I

E7 A7 D
5 5 5

25
7 5 0
5 5 7 5 5 7 5 5 7 5 7
7 7 6 6 [P] 7 7
6 6 5 5 0 0 0 0
7 7 0 0
0 0 0 0

brought him home for supper time, (singin') Any fish bites if you got good bait.

G D D

29
0 2 0 2 5
3 0 3 3 3 0 3 [P]
[H] 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0

Here's a little tip I would like to relate. Any fish bites if you got good bait.

33
2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0
[P] 3 0 3 [P] 3 0 3 [P] 3 0 3 3
[P] [P] [P]
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Rev. 6/22/13 Page 2/2

I'm a-goin' fishin, Yes I'm goin' fishing, And my baby goin' fishin' too.

4
 Fishin’ Blues
Henry Thomas

D
1. Bet you’re goin’ fishin’ all of the time,
2. I went down to my favorite fishin’ hole,
3. Put him in the pot, Put him in the pan,

G D
1. Baby goin’ fishin’ too.
2. Grabbed me a pole and a line.
3. Cook him till he’s nice and brown.

D
1. Bet your life your sweet wife, Will
2. Throwed my pole in, Caught a 9-pound catfish, And I
3. Make up a bunch of them buttermilk hoe cakes, Mama,

E7 A7
1. Catch more fish than you.
2. Brought him home for supper time, (singin’)
3. Chew em’ up and chomp em’ on down.

CHORUS:
D
Any fish bites if you got good bait.
G D
Here’s a little tip I would like to relate.
D
Any fish bites if you got good bait.
D A D
I’m a-goin’ fishin’, Yes I’m goin fishin, And my baby goin fishin’ too.

5
=>
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Jimmy Cox
A
C E7 Dm A

0 3 0 0 5 1 1 0
3 0 2 0 2
4 0 1 2 2 2
4 2 [H] 2 2 0 2 0 2
3 2 0 0

Once I lived the life of a millionaire spent all my money and

Then I began to fall so low. Didn't have a dollar, I had

Dm A Dm F A7 A

4
1 0 1 3 5 3 0
3 2 3 1 1 3 1
2 2 2 2
0 0 3 3 2 2
[R] 0 0
1 1

I didn't care. Showing my friends a mighty good time,

no place to go. (If I) ever get my hands on a dollar again,

D9 G F  G7 G
3 2 3
1. 2.

7
0 0 0 3 2 1 3 3
3 3 3 3 2 0 3
4 3
4 4 0 5 5
5 5
3 3 3

high priced liquor, cham - pagne and wine. (But)

I'll hold on to it 'til the eagle grins. (Well)

Rev. 9/10/13 Page 1/3

6
 C E7 A Dm A

10
0 1 0
1 3 2 2 3 2
1 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 0
3 2 0 0 0

No - bod - y knows you, when you're down and

Dm F G G  A
3 4 5

13
1 1 3 4 5
3 3 1 1 3 1 3 4 5
2 2 2
0 0 3 3 5 6 7

1 1 5

out. in my poc - ket not one pen - ny. And it,

D9 G C E7
3 3

16
0 0 3 3 5 0
3 3 3 3 1 3
4 4 1
4 4 5 5 2 2
5 5 3 2

Comes to friends (well), I haven't any. But, when I get back on my

A Dm A Dm

19
2 2
2 2
2 2
0 0
1 0 1 1
3 2 3 3
2 2 2
0 2 0 0
0

Rev. 9/10/13 Page 2/3

feet again, Every - body wants to be my long lost friend.

7
 F A7 A D9
3

22
3 2 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 3 1 2 2 3 3 3
2
3 3 2 4 4
0 0 5 5
1 1

It's mighty strange with - out a doubt, Nobody knows you when you're

G
C
3

End Intro. to Guitar Break

3.
25
3 3
3 1 1 1
0 0 0
5 0 2 2
3 3
3 3 3

down and out! out!

28

1
0
3 0 2
3

Rev. 9/10/13 Page 3/3

8
 Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
Jimmy Cox - 1923

C E7 A
Once I lived the life of a millionaire,

Dm A Dm A Dm
Spent all my money and I didn’t care.

F A
Showing my friends a mighty good time,

D9 G F# G7
High priced liquor, champagne and wine.

C E7 A
But then I began to fall so low.

Dm A Dm
Didn’t have a dollar, I had no place to go.

F A
If I ever get my hands on a dollar again,

D9 G
I’ll hold onto it ‘til the eagle grins.

C E7 A
No - body knows you,

Dm A Dm
When you’re down and out.

F G G# A
In my pocket not one penny. And it,

9
D9 G
Comes to friends (well), I haven’t any. (But)

C E7 A
When I get back on my feet again,

Dm A Dm
Everybody wants to be my long lost friend.

F A
It’s mighty strange without a doubt,

D9 G C
Nobody knows you when you’re down and out.

10
 Hard Time Killin' Floor
Skip James (Tuning = D A D F A D)

INTRO
3 3

D 0 0 0 0
A 0 3 3 3
F 4 [H]
D 4 3 0 2 0 0 0 0
A 3 0 2
D 0 0

VERSE
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 3 3 0 0
[H]
0 0 3 0 2 0 0
0 3 [H] 3 0 3
0 0 [H] [H]
Hard time, hard time, every -

3 3 3 3 3
5
0 0 0
0 0 0
3 2 0 0
3 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 3
0 5 [H] 5 [H]
where you go. People are driftin' from

Rev. 4/18/14 Page 1/2

11
 3 3 3 3
7
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 /4 4 2 0 0 2 /4 4 2 0
¼ [S] [S] 0 [S] [S]
0
3 0
door to door. Hum, hum,

3 3 3 3
9
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 /4 4 2 0 0 2 /4 4 2 0
[S] [S] 0 [S] [S]
0 0
0
Hum, hum. Lord, Lord,

3 3 1. 3 3
11
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 3 0 3 3
0 [H]
0 0 0
0 0 3
0 0 0 [H]
Lord, Lord.

2. 3
13
0 0 0 0
0 3 3
[H]
0
0 0

Rev. 4/18/14 Page 2/2

12
 Hard Time Killin' Floor
Skip James (Tuning = D A D F A D)

1 2
INTRO
3 3

D 0 0 0 0
A 0 3 3 3
F 4 [H]
D 4 3 0 2 0 0 0 0
A 3 0 2
D 0 0

VERSE
3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 3 3 0 0
[H]
0 0 3 0 2 0 0
0 3 [H] 3 0 3
0 0 [H] [H]
Hard time, hard time, every -

4
3 3 3 3 3
5
0 0 0
0 0 0

3 2 0 0
3 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 3
0 5 [H] 5 [H]
where you go. People are driftin' from

Rev. 4/18/14 Page 1/2

13
 5
3 3 3 3
7
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 /4 4 2 0 0 2 /4 4 2 0
¼ [S] [S] 0 [S] [S]
0
3 0
door to door. Hum, hum,

3 3 3 3
9
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 /4 4 2 0 0 2 /4 4 2 0
[S] [S] 0 [S] [S]
0 0
0
Hum, hum. Lord, Lord,

3 3 1. 3 3
11
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 3 0 3 3
0 [H]
0 0 0
0 0 3
0 0 0 [H]
Lord, Lord.

2. 3
13
0 0 0 0
0 3 3
[H]
0

0 0

Rev. 4/18/14 Page 2/2

14
 Hard Time Killin’ Floor
Skip James

1. Hard time, hard time, everywhere you go.

2. That preacher gonna’ tell you it’s heaven sent.
3. Well, you hear me singin' this lonesome song.

1. People are driftin' from door to door.

2. I ain’t got no money Lord, I can’t pay my rent.
3. These hard times gonna’ last you so very long.

1. Hum hum, hum hum, Lord Lord, Lord Lord.

2. Well well, Lord Lord, Hum hum, hum hum.
3. Well well, hum hum, Lord Lord, Lord Lord

15
=>
Come Back Baby
Traditional
Arr. Orville Johnson

A A9 D7/F 
5
A9 PART 1
3 3 3 3 3 3

E
1 1 3 3 5 5 4 3
B
G 4 2 2 4 4 4 6 1 1 6 5 4 2
0

1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
D 4 [S]
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
E 0 1 2

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
(So,) Come back baby Please don't go. How I
F

3 3
3

1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 3
2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

love you darling, You'll never know. So, Come back

A7
E7

3 3 3
¼
5 ¼
3 5 3 0 0
3 5 [B] 3 1
[S] 1 [B] 2
1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

3 3 3 3 3
baby. Let's talk it over just one more
A7 A E7

3
7
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3
3
2 0 1 1 4 4
5 4 3 2 [H]
0 0
0 0

If I could
time.

Rev. 2/20/13 Page 1/2

16
 A A A9 A
5 9 7 5

PART 2
3 3
9
5 9 9 7 5
10 8 5
4 6
0
[S]
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4

3 3 3 3
holler, Like a mountain jack, I would call for my
D7/A F

3 3 3
11
0
3 1 343 1 1 3
0 0 1 0 0
2 [B/R] 2 2 2
3 3 3 3

3
baby, "Won't you please come back." So, come back
A7
E7

3 3 3
13 ¼
3 5 3 0 0
3 5 [P] 3 1
[S] 1 [B] 2
1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

3 3 3 3 3
baby, Let's talk it over just one more
A7

1. E7

3 3
15
3/5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3
[S] 3
2 0 1 1 4
3/5 4 3 2 [H]
0 [S] 0
0 0

time. E7
(It's a long long)

2.

17
5 5
3
0 1
2 [H]
0
Rev. 2/20/13 Page 2/2

17
 Come Back Baby
Traditional 8-Bar Blues in A

A A7
1. Well, come back baby, Please don’t go.
2. That’s a long, long train, It’s got a mean engineer.
3. If I could holler, Like a mountain jack,

D7 F
1. How I love you darling, You’ll never know.
2. He has taken my baby, Away from here.
3. I would call for my baby, “Won’t you please come back.”

A E7 A E7
1. Well, come back baby, Let’s talk it over just one more time.
2. Well, come back baby, Let’s talk it over just one more time.
3. Well, come back baby, Let’s talk it over just one more time.

18
 No Money Rag
(C) Rick McKeon 2006

C A D9
5 3

0 0 0 5 5 0
4 2 4 1 8 5 3 3 4 3
4 2 2 7 7 4 4
0 2 3 3 5 6
3 5 5

Well, I ain't got no fancy cloths, but I ain't goin' no

C C A
5

4
0 0 0 5 5
1 0 1 3 4 1 8 5
2 2 7 7
3 0 2 3 3
3 5 5

where. And I ain't got no money to spend, but

D9 G C
3

7
0 0 0 3 3 2 1 0 0
3 3 3 5 4 3 4 1
0
4 4 2 2
5 5 3 3
3

I don't really care. Now, you might think I'm

Page 1/2

19
 E7 E F E7

No Money Rag -

10
0 0 0
3 0 1 3 1 3
1 2 1
2 2 3 3 2 2 1 0
2 2
1 1

poor and lowdown, but that don't bother me none. Just

F C A7 D9
3

13
0 0 3 0 3 0
1 3 1 4 2 3 3 3
2
3 3 2 2 4 4
3 0 5 5
1 1

come on along, we'll we'll pick the guitar, and we'll have some
C C

1. 2.

16

1 0 1 3 1
0 0

3 0 2 3
3

fun! (Oh Yeah!)

Page 2/2

20
 No Money Rag (4/4)
Rick McKeon

C A D9 D#7 D9 C
1. Well, I ain’t got no fancy cloths, but I ain’t goin’ no where.
2. My old car don’t run so good, but it gets me where I want to go.
3. So if you’re feeling down and out, just sing a different song.

C A D9 G
1. And I ain’t got no money to spend, but I don’t really care.
2. And I got an old guitar to play. Well, who could ask for more?
3. You’ll feel better, just drop that load, and it won’t take long.

C E7 F E7
1. Now you might think I’m poor and lowdown, but that don’t bother me none.
2. Some people say “You’ll never get rich,” and that’s probably true,
3. Just take yourself a look around, There’s beauty everywhere.

F C A D9 G C
1. Just come on along, we’ll pick the guitar, and we’ll have some fun.
2. Come on along, we’ll pick that guitar and we’ll have a laugh or two.
3. Come on along, we’ll pick that guitar, and we won’t have a care! (Oh Yeah!)

21