Black Water Chords: How to Play the Classic Song by The Doobie Brothers
Black Water is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1974 as the B-side of Another Park, Another Sunday. It was written by the band’s guitarist and vocalist Patrick Simmons, who also sings lead vocals on the track. The song features a distinctive acoustic guitar riff, a catchy chorus, and a fiddle solo by guest musician Byron Berline. The song became a surprise hit for the band, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1975.
Chord
Intro fade in: Am7 D [Verse] D Am7 D Am7 D Well, I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin'.. Am7 D Am7 D ole Mississippi, she's callin' my name. Am7 D Am7 D Catfish are jumpin', that paddle-wheel thumpin'.. Am7 D Am7 D black water keeps rollin' on past just the same. [Chorus] G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin'. G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin'.. G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb A Em7 Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin' on me? A Em7 A Em7 Yeah, keep on shinin' your light, gonna make every thing, A Em7 pretty mama, gonna make everything all right. D Am7 D Am7 A Em7 A And I ain't got no worries 'cause I ain't in no hurry..at all. [Interlude] Am7 D x4 [Verse] D Am7 D Am7 D Well, if it rains, I don't care, don't make no difference to me. Am7 D Am7 D Just take that street car that's goin' up town.. Am7 D Am7 D Yeah, I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland and dance a honky-tonk.. Am7 D Am7 D and I'll be buyin' everybody drinks all round. [Chorus] G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin'. G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin'.. G Old black water, keep on rollin'.. Bb A Em7 Mississippi moon won't you keep on shinin' on me? A Em7 A Em7 Yeah, keep on shinin' your light, gonna make every thing, A Em7 everything, gonna make everything all right. D Am7 D Am7 A Em7 A And I ain't got no worries 'cause I ain't in no hurry..at all. [Solo] Am7 D [Outro] D Am7 D Am7 I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me D by the hand.. a capella on D : By the hand, take me by the hand, pretty momma.. come and dance with your daddy, all night long. I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand.. By the hand, take me by the hand, pretty momma.. come and dance with your daddy, all night long. I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand.. Am7 D By the hand, take me by the hand, pretty momma.. Am7 D come and dance with your daddy, all night long. Am7 D Am7 I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me D by the hand.. Am7 D By the hand, take me by the hand, pretty momma.. Am7 D come and dance with your daddy, all night long. Am7 D Am7 I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me D by the hand.. Am7 D By the hand, take me by the hand, pretty momma.. Am7 D come and dance with your daddy, all night long.
The Meaning of Black Water
The song is inspired by Simmons’ love for the Mississippi River and its culture. He wrote the song while he was on tour with the band, staying in a hotel room overlooking the river. He said in an interview: “I just sat there in the window and wrote that song, looking out over the Mississippi River. I had been listening to a lot of Dixieland music at the time, and I guess that kind of crept into it. Plus, we had been touring down South a lot, so I was really into that frame of mind.”
The song is about a man who enjoys the simple pleasures of life on the river, such as building a raft, fishing, dancing, and drinking. He expresses his appreciation for the “old black water” that keeps rolling on past, and the “Mississippi moon” that keeps shining on him. He also invites his “pretty momma” to join him in his carefree lifestyle.
The Chords and Strumming Pattern
The song is played in the key of D major, with a capo on the second fret. The chords used are Am7, D, G, Bb, A, and Em7. The chord progression is mostly D-Am7-D-Am7 in the verses, and G-Bb-G-Bb-A-Em7-A-Em7 in the choruses. The song also has a bridge that goes Am7-D-Am7-D-G-Bb-G-Bb-A-Em7-A-Em7.
The strumming pattern is fairly simple, consisting of downstrokes on each beat and upstrokes on the off-beats. You can also add some accents and variations to make it more interesting. For example, you can emphasize the first and third beats of each measure, or add some muted strums or palm mutes to create some dynamics.
The Guitar Riff and Solo
The song starts with a fade-in of an acoustic guitar riff that repeats throughout the verses. The riff is based on the D major pentatonic scale, and uses hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and bends to create some melody and movement. The riff is played over the D-Am7-D-Am7 chord progression, and follows the vocal melody closely.
The song also features a fiddle solo by Byron Berline, who was a session musician and a friend of the band. The solo is played over the same chord progression as the chorus, and uses double stops, slides, trills, and grace notes to create some excitement and variation. The solo is also harmonized by another fiddle part that plays an octave higher.
Conclusion
Black Water is a classic song by The Doobie Brothers that showcases their acoustic side and their appreciation for Southern culture. The song is easy to play on guitar, with simple chords and strumming pattern, and a catchy riff and solo. The song is also fun to sing along with, with its memorable chorus and lyrics. If you want to learn how to play Black Water on guitar, you can find some tabs and chords online, or watch some video tutorials. You can also listen to the original recording or some cover versions to get some inspiration. Happy playing!
