Tom Dooley chords by The Kingston Trio (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Intro 1
E 
B7 
"Throughout history
there have been many songs
Written about the eternal triangle
E 
This next one tells the story of Mr. Grayson
B7 
A beautiful woman,
E 
and a condemned man named Tom Dooley
B7 
When the sun rises tomorrow,
E 
Tom Dooley must hang"

Chorus 1

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley

Hang down your head and cry

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley

Poor boy, you're bound to die

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Verse 1

I met her on the mountain,

there I took her life

Met her on the mountain,

stabbed her with my knife

Chorus 2

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley

Hang down your head and cry

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley

Poor boy, you're bound to die

Verse 2

This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be

Hadn't-a been for Grayson,

I'd-a been in Tennessee

(well now, boy)

Chorus 3
E 
Hang down your head and cry
B7 
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head and cry
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Hang down your head and cry
B7 
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head and cry
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die

Verse 3

This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be

Down in some lonesome valley

hangin' from a white oak tree

Chorus 4
E 
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
B7 
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die
(ah, well now, boy)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
B7 
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die
B7 
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die
B7 
E 
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die

1958Folk

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: BeginnerKey: E majorBPM: 126

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

E: 0-2-2-1-0-0
B7: x-2-1-2-0-2

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio, 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 E major. It suits players who want to learn Tom Dooley the way The Kingston Trio intended, without oversimplifying the arrangement.