It Takes a Lot to Laugh,
It Takes a Train to Cry

Bob Dylan

A Thing (1) (x2)
A Thing (2) E Thing A Thing (3)
I drive a mail train, mama, can't buy a thrill
A Thing (2) E Thing A Thing (3)
I've been up all night, mama, been on the window sill
A G D E (sustain)
If I die on top of the hill
A Thing (4) E Thing A Thing (3)
If I don't make it, I know my baby will

Don't the moon look good, mama, risin' up through the trees
Don't the brakeman look good, mama, flaggin' down the "Double E"
Don't the sun look good goin' down over the sea
Don't my gal look fine when she's coming after me
*Solo*

Wintertime is comin' windows are filled with frost
I tried to tell everybody, but I could not get it acrost
I wanna be your lover, baby, I don't wanna be your boss
Don't say I didn't warn you when your train gets lost
Don't say I didn't warn you when your train gets lost
Don't say I didn't warn you when your train gets lost
Don't say I didn't warn you when your train gets lost...



Copyright 1965
Highway 61 Revisited


I learned this version of a Dylan classic off of a Jerry Garcia & John Kahn acoustic set bootleg. Jerry takes it the next step, but he also adds on some pretty classic licks. Be sure to sustain on the E at the end of the third line. Don't be scared to jazz it up a bit.
h = hammer-on
p = pull-off

A Thing (1): "A" chord position       
    e |-------------------------------------------
    B |-----------2h3p2----------------2h3p2------
    G |-----------------2--------------------2----
    D |---------2---------2----------2---------2--
    A |-------0--------------------0--------------
    E |-0h2p0----------------0h2p0----------------
             
A Thing (2): "A" chord position       
    e |-------------------
    B |-------------------
    G |--2-2---2---2---2--
    D |--2-2-4---5---4----
    A |--0----------------
    E |-------------------

E Thing:        
    e |-------------------------
    B |-----2---1---0----------
    G |-------------------------
    D |----2-2-1-1-0-0----------
    A |-2-----------------------
    E |-0-----------------------

A Thing (3): "A" chord position       
    e |-------------------------------------
    B |-----2h3p2----------------2h3p2------
    G |-2---------2--------------------2----
    D |-2-2---------2----------2---------2--
    A |-0--------------------0--------------
    E |----------------0h2p0----------------

A Thing (4): "A" chord position       
    e |------------------------
    B |------------------------
    G |-------2-2---2---2---2--
    D |-------2-2-4---5---4----
    A |-------0----------------
    E |-0-2-4------------------







Michael's Kitchen
Songs Index
The Ultimate Guitar Chord Chart
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry: The Textfile


What a long strange trip it's been!