If I Don't Be There By Morning

Written by 
Bob Dylan
Released on 
Studio outtakes, Soundtracks, etc. 1978–
Tabbed by 
Eyolf Østrem

Written for Eric Clapton and released on his album Backless (1978)

To get that high ringing b from the piano, the song has to be played around the 7th fret, with barre chords (or a capo). The guitar that can be heard on the tape probably plays with a capo on the 2nd fret and the chords in the 2nd version below.
Another alternative is to play with a capo on the 4th fret with the chords in the second column below.

Intro and recurring pattern:

  B       E/b   B           E/b
      >      (>)        >      (>)
  :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .
|-7---7---7-7-7-7-|-----7---7-7-7-7-|
|-7---7---9-9-9-7-|-----7---9-9-9-7-|
|-8---8---9-9-9-8-|-----8---9-9-9-8-| repeat
|-9---9---9-9-9-9-|-----9---9-9-9-9-|
|-9---9---7-7-7-9-|-----9---7-7-7-9-|
|-7---7---7-7-7-7-|-----7---7-7-7-7-|
Chords 
No capo:                 Capo 4th fret:

B     799877             G    320003
E/b   779997             C/g  3x2013
E7    076750 or 079797   C7   x32310
D#m7  x68676             Bm7  x24232
G#m   466444             Em   022000
C#m7  x46454             Am7  x02010
F#6   24x342             D6   xx0202
F#7   242322             D7   xx0212
B         E/b   B
Blue sky
E/b        B     E/b  B   E/b
upon the horizon,
B            E/b  B
Private eye
   E/b   B      E/b  B  B7
is on my trail,
       E7
And if I don't be there by morning
                 B  E/b   B
She'll know that I
        E/b                B      E/b   B   E/b
must've spent the night in jail.

I been runnin'
from Memphis to LA
Had an appointment
set sometime for today
And if I don't be there by morning
She'll know that I
must have gone the other way.

D#m7                    G#m
 Finding my way back to you, girl,
           B                    E
lonely and blue, and mistreated too,
D#m7                   G#m
 Sometimes I think of you, girl,
      C#m7                 F#6   F#7
is it true you think of me too?

[instr. verse]

I got a woman
living in LA
I got a woman
waiting for my pay,
And if I don't be there by morning
Pack my clothes,
get down on your knees and pray.

Finding my way back to you, girl,
lonely and blue, and mistreated too,
Sometimes I think of you, girl,
is it true you think of me too?

I left my woman
with a twenty-dollar bill,
I left her waiting,
I hope she's waiting for me still.
But if I don't be there by morning
I guess that I,
I never will.

[instr. verses and fade out]

Version with capo 2nd fret:

Chords:

D/f#    200232
C#m7    x46454
F#m     244222
Bm7     x24232
E6      022120
E7      020100

A          D/f#   A
Blue sky
D/f#       A     D/f#  A    D/f#
upon the horizon,
A          D/f# A
Private eye
   D/f#       A    D/f#   A    A7
is on my trail,
       D7
And if I don't be there by morning
                 A    D/f#   A
She'll know that I
        D/f#               A    D/f#   A    D/f#
must've spent the night in jail.

. . .

C#m7                    F#m
 Finding my way back to you, girl,
           A                    D
lonely and blue, and mistreated too,
C#m7                   F#m
 Sometimes I think of you, girl,
      B#m7                 E6   E7
is it true you think of me too?

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