“Down and Out in New York City” guitar tab
This is a James Brown tune from the “Black Caesar” soundtrack. I have never been able to find a tab of it, so I did it myself.
There are a few fills missing. I didn’t feel like tabbing them out since they’re all based on the key, which I’ve provided. Just noodling in the minor / relative major scale will do the trick.
There are probably mistakes. I’m fairly sure the verses don’t ever go [ Ab Gb ], but I liked the variation so I transcribed it that way.
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[ Bb minor / Db Major (Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab) ]
Yeah, man, like you know…
[ Verse riff: ]
A|---6-6--8-8--9-9--8-9-8---
[ Verse 1: Ab Bb | Ab Bb | Ab Gb | Ab Bb ]
I was born in New York City, on a Monday
Seems I was out shinin’ shoes by Tuesday noon
All the fat cats in the bad hats doing me a really big favor
Got the fat cats in the bad hats laying it on real good
[Chorus: Bb Ab Gb ]
Here’s a dime, boy
Gimme a shine, boy
Horn and Flute riff:
e|---16-14-13-14---13----13-------------------------|
B|--------------------16------16-14-16---14----14---|
G|------------------------------------------16------|
[ Verse 2 ]
When the cold wind come, it lives in New York City
And the street’s no place to be, but there you are
So you try hard or you die hard, no one really gives a good damn
You try hard and you die hard, no one gives a damn
[ Chorus ]
Here’s a dime, boy
Gimme a shine, boy
When you’re down and out
in New York City
Ain’t no way to be
but where can you go?
When you’re down and out
in New York City
[Strum (w/ fills): Db ]
I never, never, never gonna get that way again, ho!
[ Horn and Flute riff w/ Ab Bb progression ]
No, no, no
No, no, not me
When you need a friend
you never have one
When you want a friend…
[ Verse 3 ]
Gonna get myself together in the morning
gonna leave it all like one bad dream
All the fat cats in the bad hats doing me a really big favor
You got the fat cats in the bad hats, laying it on real good
[ Chorus ]
Here’s a dime, boy
Gimme a shine, boy, hoo!
Hoo!
Haa … yeah!
Gimme a shine, boy
Whoo!
Eh, give me a shine
Yeah, ha!
Hah, nah, nah
Whoo!
[ Breakdown ]
A|---13-13-11-11-13-13--- etc.
Shh, ha! Ugn…
[ Horn and Flute riff w/ Ab Bb progression to end... ]
Down and out in New York City
Ain’t no where to be, but where can you go?
When you’re down and out
in New York City
Said I’m never, never, never
gonna get that way
No, no
No, no, not me…
When you need a friend
Troubled mind
When you need a friend
and got a troubled mind
Ain’t nobody
gonna give you one thin dime
Ha
A friend can be cruel
sometimes
they can be sweet
but what,
what bugs a man
what hurts a man
when you give him a drink, huh
Just can’t
get nothing to eat
that’s New York City
that’s New York City
New York City
Harlem, 125 Street
The Bricks
8th Avenue…
Tags: Black Caesar, blaxploitation, Godfather of Soul, James Brown, tablature