All I Could Do Was Cry chords by Etta James (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Ab
Fm
Db6
Eb
Bbm
Ebm7
Ab7
Db
Bb7
Bbm7
Eb7
Dbm
Ab/Eb
Fm7
Ab7/C

Intro 1

Verse 1
Ab 
Bbm 
Eb 
Ab 
I  (A flat major) heard  (B flat minor)  (E flat major) church bells  (A flat major) ringing
Ebm7 
Ab7 
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
 (E flat minor7)  (A flat7) I  (D flat major) heard  (E flat major) a choir  (A flat major) singing
Ebm7 
Ab7 
Db 
Eb 
 (E flat minor7)  (A flat7)  (D flat major) I   saw my  (E flat major) love
Ab 
Fm 
walk  (A flat major) down the  (F minor) aisle
Bb7 
Eb 
Bbm7 
Eb7 
On her  (B flat7) finger he placed  (E flat major) a ring  (B flat minor7)  (E flat7) 

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Verse 2

Oh, I saw them holding hands

She was standing there

with my man

I heard them promise

"Till death do us part"

Each word was a pain

in my heart

Bridge 1
Db 
Eb 
 (D flat major) All I could do,  (E flat major) all I could do
Ab 
Fm 
was cry  (A flat major) (cry,  (F minor) cry, cry)
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Ab7 
 (D flat major) All  (E flat major) I   could do was  (A flat major) cry (cry,  (A flat7) cry,  cry)
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Db 
Dbm 
 (D flat major) I   was  (E flat major) losing the  (A flat major) man that I  (D flat major) loved  (D flat minor) 
Ab/Eb 
Fm7 
Bbm7 
And  (A flat/Eb) all       (F minor7) I could  (B flat minor7) do
Eb7 
Ab 
Bbm7 
 (E flat7) was  (A flat major) cry (cry,  (B flat minor7) cry)
Eb7 
Yeah  (E flat7) 

Verse 3
Ab 
 (A flat major) and now
Bbm 
Eb 
Ab 
Ebm7 
Ab7 
 (B flat minor) the wedding's  (E flat major)  (A flat major) over  (E flat minor7)  (A flat7) 
Db 
Eb 
 (D flat major) Rice, rice has been  (E flat major) thrown
Ab 
Ebm7 
Ab7 
over their heads  (A flat major)  (E flat minor7)  (A flat7) 
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Db 
Dbm 
 (D flat major) For them  (E flat major) life has  (A flat major) just be-  (D flat major) gun  (D flat minor) 
Ab/Eb 
Fm7 
Bbm7 
Eb7 
But  (A flat/Eb) mine      (F minor7) is  (B flat minor7) at      (E flat7) 
Ab 
Bbm7 
Ab7/C 
an  (A flat major) end  (B flat minor7)  (A flat7/C) 

Bridge 2
Db 
Eb 
 (D flat major) All, all I could do,  (E flat major) all I could do
Ab 
Fm 
was cry  (A flat major) (cry,  (F minor) cry, cry)
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Fm 
 (D flat major) All I  (E flat major) could do was  (A flat major) cry (cry,  (F minor) cry, cry)
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Fm 
 (D flat major) I  (E flat major) was losing  (A flat major) the man that I  (F minor) loved
Db 
Eb 
Ab 
Fm 
And  (D flat major) all I could  (E flat major) do  was  (A flat major) cry (cry,  (F minor) cry, cry)
[Fade Out]

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Ab
Fm
Db6
Eb
Bbm
Ebm7
Ab7
Db
Bb7
Bbm7
Eb7
Dbm
Ab/Eb
Fm7
Ab7/C

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: AdvancedKey: Ab majorBPM: 87

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Ab: 4-6-6-5-4-4
Fm: x-x-3-1-1-1
Db6: x-4-3-3-2-x
Eb: x-6-8-8-8-x
Bbm: x-1-3-3-2-x
Ebm7: x-6-8-6-7-x
Ab7: 4-6-4-5-4-4
Db: x-4-6-6-6-x
Bb7: x-1-3-1-3-x
Bbm7: x-1-3-1-2-x
Eb7: x-x-1-3-2-3
Dbm: x-4-6-6-5-x
Ab/Eb: x-6-6-5-4-4
Fm7: 1-3-1-1-1-1
Ab7/C: x-3-4-1-4-x

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of All I Could Do Was Cry by Etta James, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of Ab major. It is designed for experienced players looking to reproduce the full sonic intent and artistic expression of Etta James.