Born Under A Bad Sign – Cream from the Album Wheels of Fire
Albert King original was in D flat. This is the Cream version in G – but using a capo
allows it to be adapted easily. The opening riff is played over the chorus by both lead
and bass, except when soloing. I have left the original Albert King lyrics in, Cream
leave out verse 2. Clapton adds a variety of riffs at the end of each line.
[Opening Riff]
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------|
G|---------3----------------------3-------------|
D|-----3h5-3-5----------------3h5-3-5-----------|
A|-3h5---------3h5-5------3h5---------3h5-5-----|
E|-------------------6-3--------------------6-3-|
[Chorus]
G7
Born under a bad sign
G7
I've been down since I began to crawl
D7 D7 C#7 C7
If it wasn't for bad luck
C7
I wouldn't have no luck at all
[Riff]
(played over each verse)
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------3-------------------3---------------|
D|-----3-3-5---------------3-3-3-5-----------|
A|-3h5-------3h5-5-----3h5---------3h5-5-----|
E|-----------------6-3-------------------6-3-|
[Verse 1]
G7
Bad luck and trouble's my only friend
G7
I've been down ever since I was ten
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]*
(omitted in Cream version)
G7
I can´t read, never learned how to write
G7
My whole life is one big fight
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
G7
Oh wine and women is all I crave
G7
A big legged woman's gonna carry me to my grave
[Chorus]
[Solo]
[Verse 1]
(repeated)
G7
Born under a bad sign
G7
I've been down since I began to crawl
D7 D7 C#7 C7
If it wasn't for bad luck
C7 C7 C#7 D7
I wouldn't have no luck
D7 D7 C#7 C7
If it wasn't for real bad luck
C7 N.C.
I wouldn't have no luck at all
G7
Born under a bad sign
G7
Born under a bad sign
************************************
| h Hammer-on
************************************