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This Evening So Soon

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This traditional is usually played in a different arrangement (see e.g. versions by the Kingston Trio, Dave Van Ronk, or Eric Bibb).

Most of the song is just a circling around C-Dm-Em-Dm-C-etc. The second Dm chord is frequently replaced by an F, a G, or some other transitional chord shape. In most of the verses, the double-tempo F-G figure occurs, as shown in the second verse below.

Chords 
C/g        332010
G7sus4     3x3010 or 3x3x10
C . Dm . Em . Dm
Do you remember Bob Gibson?
C . Dm . Em . Dm

[harmonica]
C . Dm . Em . F
C . Dm . Em . Dm
            
C        Dm   Em             Dm        C      .    Dm . Em . F .
Tell old Bill, when he comes home this morning,
C        Dm         Em       F         G  C/g  G7 C/g  G  C/g G7 C/g
Tell old Bill, when he comes home this evening,
C        Dm         Em         F
Tell old Bill, when he comes home,
   C          Dm       Em     F
to leave them downtown girls alone,
     C     Dm      Em  G7sus4   C
This morning, this evening, so soon.

C . Dm . Em . F G7sus4
            
C   Dm      Em     F    G     C      .    Dm . Em . G7 .
Old Sal was baking bread this morning,
Old Sal was baking bread this evening,
Old Sal was baking bread,
when she found out that her Bill was dead,
This morning, this evening, so soon.
            
She said, 'Oh no, it can't be so this morning,
Oh no, it can't be so this evening.'
She said, 'Oh no, it can't be so,
My Bill left home about an hour ago,'
This morning, this evening, so soon.
            
Well, they brought Bill home in a hurry-up wagon this morning
They brought Bill home in a hurry-up wagon this evening,
Well, you know, they brought Bill home in a hurry-up wagon,
his arms, his legs and feet were dragging,
This morning, this evening, so soon,
So soon,
So soon,
So soon.
            
Tell old Bill when he comes home this morning,
Tell old Bill when he comes home this evening,
Yes, tell old Bill when he comes home,
to leave them downtown girls alone,
This morning, this evening, so soon,
So soon,
So soon.

            

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