Lucinda Williams Happy Woman Blues written by Lucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Mickey White acoustic rhythm and lead guitars, harmony vocals
Rex Bell electric bass and harmony vocals
Andre Matthews electric rhythm, lead and slide guitars
Ira Wilkes drums
Mickey Moody pedal steel guitar
Malcolm Smith fiddle and viola

Tryin’ hard to be a happy woman.

But sometimes life just overcomes me,
Everyday I’m workin’ just to pay my dues.
Lay down at night, my mind is so confused.
Goin’ down south with the New York City blues,

Gotta hit the road before I blow a fuse,
I might buy me a Cadillac or a Chevrolet.
I don’t care what model as long as it takes me away

SOLO

I’ve been hiding my heart in a trunk.

Can you come see me when my ship has sunk
You can give me loovin, that I can’t refuse,
And love is the one thing that’s sure to cure my blues.
Goin’ down the road with a heave heart,

Tryin’ to find lightness in the dark,
Tryin’ to live my life, tryin’ to get satisfied.
My mind is in the city but my heart is in the countryside.

SOLO

Tryin’ hard to be a happy woman.

But sometimes life just overcomes me,
Everyday I’m workin’ just to pay my dues.
Lay down at night, my mind is so confused.
Lay down at night, my mind is so confused.

From Lucinda Williams “Happy Woman Blues”
Folkways Records 1980

HOWLIN’ AT MIDNIGHT (Lucinda Williams)
performed by Lucinda Williams on HAPPY WOMAN BLUES (1990)
transcribed by Mark Albert markalbert@pipeline.com

capo 4, Key of E

CHORD CHART (12 bar blues)

Howlin’ at midnight, winter creepin’ in

Feel like I’ve gone and lost my best friend
My best friend, lost my best friend
This car’s headed down the wrong track again

I ain’t got nobody, I’m nobody’s girl

Gonna get in my Mercury and drive around the world
Around the world, all around the world
When I reach that mountain top I’ll stand with flags unfurled

She’s up in New York City tryin’ to make it big

Wrote me a letter yesterday sayin’ I ain’t got no gigs
Ain’t got no gigs, I ain’t got no gigs
If you wanna send me somethin’, make it a two dollar rig

GUITAR SOLO

She’s up in New York City tryin’ to be a star

Told me you’re wastin’ your time where you are
Where you are, where you are
Gotta get yourself out of all those Texas bars

Howlin’ at midnight, winter creepin’ in

Feel like I’ve gone and lost my best friend
My best friend, lost my best friend
This car’s headed down the wrong track again
This car’s headed down the wrong track again