Don't Pity Me
Performed by Bob Dylan in Joliette, Quebec, July 31 1989 (a one-off).
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem and Jamie Lovinger
On my tape (thanks, Jamie), it sounds as if he actually plays it in F# major. On the other hand, the final chord sounds very much like a G shape chord, which is also much easier to play. I append a version in G major at the end.
The lyrics are full of blanks – the word within brackets are not really meaningful suggestions, just words that sound like what he’s singing, mainly to have something to place the chords on…
F# A#m B F#
Pity the man got one arm
F# A#m B (F# first verse only)
pity the woman that's lost her charm
F# /a# C# D#m B (first verse: ...D#m C#...)
Don't you pi-ty me
F# /a# C# D#m B F#
Don't pity me
Pity the child out in the cold
Pity the woman <that back one time let go>
Don't pity me
Don't pity me
B
You got a <little better>
<playin' with me> or <it's plain to see>
G# C#
So don't you pity me.
Pity the angel, got no way to stay
Pity the <stranger or dancers> getting old and grey
Don't pity me
Don't pity me
You got a <little better>
<If you're playin' with me> or <it's plain to see>
So don't you pity me.
Pity the man got one arm
pity the woman that's lost her charm
Don't pity me
Don't pity me
G Bm C G
Pity the man got one arm
G Bm C (G first verse only)
pity the woman that's lost her charm
G /b D Em C
Don't you pi-ty me
G /b D Em C G
Don't pity me