Old Black Kettle
View chords used in this chart
Intro
G C G G
[Verso 1]
G
Well, I remember when I was just little
C
Mama used to cook in an old black kettle
D G D
On an old wood stove she'd had since she was wed
G
Well, the oven door was sprung a little bit
C
So we propped it up with a fork and stick
D G
But that didn't matter 'cause Mama kept us fed
[Verso 2]
G
My mama and daddy must have loved each other
C
'Cause I had 11 sisters and brothers
D G D
And the girls worked just as hard as the boys did
G
There was corn to hoe then we'd go hoe it
C
We might have been poor but we didn't know it
D G
We'd heard that word but we didn't know what it meant
[Refrão]
C G
Oh, we used to have such a good life
D D7 D
And the days that I knew then are the happiest I've known
C G
And oh, didn't we have such a good time
G D C G A
And it's sad to think the old black kettle's gone
[Verso 3]
A
Well, there was nothing that pleased us any better
D
Than when we got an occasional letter
E A E
From kinfolks living up north in some big town
A
We'd think of all the games we'd play
D
And we just couldn't hardly wait
E A
When our city cousins said they's a-coming down
[Verso 4]
A
Now Mama's done away with the old black kettle
D
She used to cook in when I was just little
E A E
And the door ain't sprung on her electric range
A
That little farm and home we had
D
It ain't there no more and that's too bad
E A
Folks are doin' away with the simple things
[Refrão]
D A
Oh, we used to have such a good life
E A7 E
And the days that I knew then are the happiest I've known
D A
And oh, didn't we have such a good time
E D
And it's sad to think the old black kettle's gone
Outro
D A E D
Now I just mean to say the simple things are gone
A
The old black kettle's gone
How to play Old Black Kettle
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.