Words and music Bob Dylan
Recorded june 1964 and released on The Bootleg Series 1-3
(1991)
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem
Capo 4th fret (sounding key E major)
Chords:
D7/f# 200212 (or 200210, which would be called D9/f#) C/g 332010 C/b x20010 (not really C/b, but that's what he plays) G6 322003 (drop the 1st string and play 32000x-32200x-32300x, G7 323003 that's the only way to get this one smooth)
Intro:
G |------------ |------------ |-------0---- |-0-0-0-0---- etc |-2-0-2-2---- |-3-----3----
C E
Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat
Am D7/f#
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
C /b Am G C/g
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
G G6 G7 C G
But mama, you been on my mind.
C E
I don't mean trouble, please don't put me down or get upset,
Am D7/f#
I am not pleadin' or sayin', "I can't forget you."
C E Am Am/g F
I do not pace the floor bowed down an' bent, but yet,
C/g G G6 G7 C
Mama, you been on my mind.
C
Even though my mind is hazy an' my thoughts they might be narrow,
E Am D7/f#
Where you been don't bother me nor bring me down with sorrow.
C G Am /g F
I don't even mind who you'll be wakin' with tomorrow,
C/g G G6 G7 C
But mama, you're just on my mind.
C
I am not askin' you to say words like "yes" or "no,"
E Am D7/f#
Please understand me, I have no place I'm callin' you t' go.
C G Am /g F
I'm just whisperin' to myself, so I can pretend that I don't know,
C/g G G6 G7 C G
Mama, you are on my mind.
Harmonica verse
C
When you wake up in the mornin', baby, look inside your mirror.
E Am D7/f#
You know I won't be next to you, you know I won't be near.
C E Am /g F
I'd just be curious to know if you can see yourself as clear
C/g G G6 G7 C
As someone who has had you on his mind
Capo 4th fret
This time Dylan played with Joan Baez, and so the chords were the same in all verses...
C
Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat
E Am D7/f#
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
C /b Am /g F (C/e F) C/g
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
G G6 G7 C
But mama, you been on my mind.
G
G D Em
Maybe it's the color of the sun cut flat
Am *)
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
G D Em C
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
G D G
But mama, you're just on my mind.
*) Sometimes a C is inserted before the Am.
Note how the E chord, which was so prominent in the earlier versions, has disappeared completely.
C
Maybe it's the color of the sun cut flat
/b Am F
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
C G Am /g F
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
C G C
But mama, you're just on my mind.