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Dave Van Ronk - Sporting Life Blues Chords

Chord reference C7, F, F7, Bb, Bbm, C
Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

[C7]I got a [F]letter from my [F7]home Most of my [Bb]good friends are dead and [Bbm]gone It’ll make you [F]worry It’ll make you [C]wonder about days to [F]come [Bb] [F] [C7]

My mother [F]used to say to [F7]me So young and [Bb]foolish and I could not [Bbm]see I have no [F]mother My sisters and [C]brothers won’t talk to [F]me [Bb] [F] [C7]

She used to [F]fall on her knees and [F7]pray These are the [Bb]very words she used to [Bbm]say She said, oh [F]Johnny My precious [C]Johnny, please change your [F]ways [Bb] [F] [C7]

I’m getting’ [F]tired of runnin’ [F7]around Think I’ll get [Bb]married and settle [Bbm]down This ole [F]night life, This sportin’ [C]life, it’s killin’ [F]me [Bb] [F] [C7]

I’ve been [F]gambler and a cheater [F7]too But now it’s [Bb]come my time to [Bbm]lose This ole [F]sportin’ life Has got the [C]best hand, what can I [F]do? [Bb] [F] [C7]

There ain’t but [F]one thing that I think that I done [F7]wrong I lived that [Bb]sportin’ life, my friend, too [Bbm]long I said, it’s [F]no good Please [C]believe me, please leave it a[F]lone [Bb] [F] [C7]

I’m getting’ [F]tired of runnin’ [F7]around Think I’ll get [Bb]married and settle [Bbm]down This ole [F]night life, This sportin’ [C]life, it’s killin’ [F]me [Bb] [F] [C7]

I’ve been [F]gambler and a cheater [F7]too But now it’s [Bb]come my time to [Bbm]lose This ole [F]sportin’ life Has got the [C]best hand, what can I [F]do? [Bb] [F] [C7]

There ain’t but [F]one thing that I think that I done [F7]wrong I lived that [Bb]sportin’ life, my friend, too [Bbm]long I said, it’s [F]no good Please [C]believe me, please leave it a‐[F]lone [Bb] [F] [C7]

I’m getting’ [F]tired of runnin’ [F7]around Think I’ll get [Bb]married and settle [Bbm]down This ole [F]night life, this sportin’ [C]life, it’s killin’ [F]me [Bb] [F]

Artist Dave Van Ronk
Album ...And the Tin Pan Bended and the Story Ended...
Genres Folk
Year 2004
Key C7

How to Play Sporting Life Blues on Guitar?

Dave Van Ronk - Sporting Life Blues can be played in the key of C7 using the C7, F, F7, Bb, Bbm, C chords.

  • For C7, To play C7, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D.
  • For F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G.
  • For F7, To play F7, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, press fret 1 on the D string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute G.
  • For Bb, To play A# | Bb, barre fret 1 from the low E string to the A string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the high E string with finger 4, let D ring open, mute G, B.
  • For Bbm, To play A#m | Bbm, barre fret 1 from the low E string to the A string with finger 1, press fret 2 on the B string with finger 2, press fret 1 on the high E string with finger 4, mute D, G.
  • For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Sporting Life Blues with the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ strumming pattern.