Poor Old Slave
View chords used in this chart
C C7 F C
1. The poor old slave has gone to rest
G - G7
We know that he is free
C C7 F C
His bones, they lie, disturb them not
G - G7 - C
Way down in Tennessee
C C7 F C
2. The poor, poor old slave, slave has gone, gone to rest, rest
G G7
We know, know that he, he is free, free, free
C C7 F C
His bones, bones, they lie, lie disturb, -turb them not, not
G G7 C
Way down, down in Ten - enn - Tennessee, see, see
C C7 F C
3. The pa - poor old sla - sla -slave, has gon - gone to re - rest
G G7
We know, know that he, he is free, free, free
C C7 F C
His bo - bones they lie - lie, dis-turb, -turb them not, not
G G7 C
Way dow - down in Ten -enn- Tennessee, see, see
C C7 F C
4. The piggly-poor old sliggily-slave has giggily-gone to riggily-rest
G G7
We kniggily-know that higgily-he is free, free, free
C C7 F C
His biggily-bones they leggily-lie dis-tiggily-turb them niggily-not
G G7 C
Way diggily-down in Tiggily-Tennesee, see, see
G G7 C
A...miggily...men!
How to play Poor Old Slave
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 C. 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.