Here's a rendition of Bob Dylan's original "If You've Gotta Go, Go Now" covered by J. Tillman for the
Subterranean Homesick Blues Tribute Album. Overall, a ton of fun to play and a fresh take breathed into a
wonderfully written song imbuing a more contemporary take in its styling and presentation. I'm glad this
brings yet another Dylan piece into the frame for another generation to appreciate.
Questions, comments, concerns and or snide remarks can be left in the comments! En Avant!
The song does make use of a modified B walking down out of the C, which I will refer to
simply as "B" for our purposes here.
[Chords]
G C B D
e| 3 3 3 3
B| 3 3 3 3
G| 0 0 0 2
D| 0 2 0 0
A| 2 3 2 0
E| 3 0 0 0
When listening to the intro, and playing around in the song itself, the hammer-ons are on the 5th
string, looking something like this. The full chord displayed representing a strumming pattern here
between the hammering and pulling off. The song itself can be referred to for this, but feel free to
play around and make it your own. I add a hammer on the 4th string as well to add a little variation
into the mix.
e|---3------3-----3-------3-|
B|---0------0-----0-------3-|
G|---0------0-----0-------0-|
D|---0------0-----0-0h2p0-0-|
A|---2--0h2-2-0h2-2-------2-|
E|-3-3-3----3-----3-------3-|
G (With hammering pattern)
[Verse 1]
G
Listen to me, baby
C B G
There's something you must see
C
I want to be with you, gal
D
If you want to be with me
G
It ain't that I'm questionin' you
C B G
To take part in any quiz
C
It's just that I ain't got no watch
D
An' you keep askin' me what time it is
[Chorus]
G
But if you got to go
C B G
It's all right
C G
But if you got to go, go now
D G
Or else you gotta stay all night
[Verse 2]
G
I am just a poor boy
C B G
Lookin' to connect
C
But I certainly don't want you thinkin'
D
That I ain't got any respect
G
You know I'd have nightmares
C B G
And a guilty conscience, too
C
If I kept you from anything
D
That you really wanted to do
[Chorus]
G
But if you got to go
C B G
It's all right
C G
But if you got to go, go now
D G
Or else you gotta stay all night
[Verse 3]
G
It ain't that I'm wantin'
C B G
Anything you never gave before
C
It's just that I'll be sleepin' soon
D
It'll be too dark for you to find the door
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| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
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