Ballad Of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd | Lyrics & Guitar Chords

The Ballad Of Curtis Loew was recorded for their second album called Second Helping. It tells the story of an old black man who was called useless for just playing music outside a store all day, but was loved by the narrator of the song. The band only performed it live once before lead singer Ronnie Van Zant died.

You can learn to play the chords you need to play Ballad Of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd with the Uberchord app. This app features a guitar chord trainer and a strumming trainer. It listens to your guitar chords and gives you visual feedback in real-time in case you make a mistake.

Key of the Song:

The original key of Ballad Of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd is in E major.

Guitar Chords for Ballad Of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The key to this song, like many, is knowing your chord shapes by heart. If you don’t, you’ll make many technical mistakes that’ll prevent you from letting the strings sound out the chords. So be mindful of your fret hand thumb placement, your wrist, and how close to the fret you are. 

Video Lesson

Ballad Of Curtis Loew by Lynyrd Skynyrd – Lyrics with Chords

[Intro]
E  D  A  E
 
[Verse]
        E                           B
Well, I used to wake the morning before the rooster crowed
E                                 A               F#
   Searching for soda bottles to get myself some dough
E                                  B
   Brought 'em down to the corner, down to the country store
A                                     A7               E
   Cash 'em in and give my money to a man named Curtis Loew
 
E              B              A              E
Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
E             B                D              A
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
E                     B              A                  E
He used to own an old dobro, used to play it across his knee
E            B                   D                 E  E7
I'd give old Curt my money, he'd play all day for me
 
[Chorus]
A                     E            E7
Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
A                                E              E7
Well, I got your drinking money, tune up your dobro
A                                E              F#
People said he was useless, them people are the fools
      E                   D                A              E
cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues
 
[Interlude]
E  D  D  E
 
[Verse]
E               B      A               E
He looked to be sixty, and maybe I was ten
E            B               D            A
Mama used to whip me but I'd go see him again
E                  B               A              E
I'd clap my hands, stomp my feets, try to stay in time
E              B
He'd play me a song or two
     D                     E    E7
Then take another drink of wine.
 
[Chorus]
A                     E            E7
Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
A                                E              E7
Well, I got your drinking money, tune up your dobro
A                                E              F#
People said he was useless, them people are the fools
      E                   D                A              E
cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues
 
[Interlude]
E  D  A  A
 
Yes sir
 
[Solo]
E  B  A  E
E  B  D  E
E  B  A  E
E  B  D  E
 
A  A  E  E
A  A  E  E
A  A  E  F#  F#
E  D  A  E
 
[Verse]
E              B            A              E
On the day old Curtis died, nobody came to pray
E            B                         D                  A
Ol' preacher said some words, and they chunked him in the clay
E               B        A                       E
Well he lived a lifetime playin' the black man's blues
E                 B                     D             E    E7
And on the day he lost his life, that's all he had to lose
 
[Chorus]
A                     E                     E7
Play me a song Curtis Loew, hey Curtis Loew
A                           E                   E7
I wish that you was here so everyone would know
A                                E              F#
People said he was useless, them people all are fools
      E                 D                A              E
cause Curtis you're the finest picker to ever play the blues
 
[Outro]
E  D  D  E
E  D  A  E