Folk, Blues

In the Pines Chords

Lead Belly Beginner Key of E 4 Chords 3 min read

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.

Emtap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Dtap to play

Key

E Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Em · Am · G · D

Lead Belly’s haunting folk-blues ballad about loss and loneliness, famously known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Beginner difficulty in the key of E.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play D, G, and A shapes to match the key of E if that’s easier.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

And I shivered the whole night through

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 2

E

Her husband was a hard-working man

B7

Just about a mile from here

E B7

His head was found in a driving wheel

E B7

But his body never was found

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 3

E

Little girl, little girl, what have I done

B7

That makes you treat me so

E B7

You have caused me to wear these weeping britches

E B7

And everywhere I go

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Verse 4

E

I asked my captain for the time of day

B7

He said he throwed his watch away

E B7

A heart filled with sorrow and a worried mind

E B7

In the pines, in the pines

Chorus

E

My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me

B7

Tell me where did you sleep last night

E

In the pines, in the pines

B7

Where the sun never shines

E B7

I would shiver the whole night through

Practice tip: Focus on the simple two-chord (E and B7) pattern; the song’s power comes from the steady rhythm and the lyrical delivery.