Beale Street Blues

by Duke Ellington
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Lyrics

You’ll (C)see pret ty browns in beau ti ful gowns, you’ll see (Am)tail or mades and their (G)hand (D7)me (G)downs.

(G)You’ll (C)meet hon est men and (F)pick pock ets skilled.

You’ll (Abdim)find that (C)bus ’ness nev er clos es till some bod y gets sa (C)killed.

You’ll (C)see Hog Nose res and chit lin’ ca fés, you’ll see (Am)jugs that tell of their (G)by (D7)gone (G)days and (C)plac es, once plac es, (F)now just a sham, you’ll (Abdim)see the (C)Gold en Balls e nough to pave the New Je ru sa (C)lem.

If sings the Beale Street (C)Blues.

I’d rath er (F)be here,

than an y place I (F)know.

I’d (F7)rath er (Bb)be here

than an y place I (F)know.

It’s goin’ to (C7)take the ser geant and for to make me (F)go.

Goin’ to the (F)riv er,

than may be, bye and (F)bye.

Goin’ (F7)to the (Bb)riv er,

than there’s a rea son (F)why.

Be cause the (C7)riv er’s wet geant and Beale Street’s done gone (F)dry.

Goin’ to the

Beale Street Blues — Piano Lead Sheet

1 person has learned this song

"Beale Street Blues" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of C, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Beale Street Blues”

Where are the chord symbols for "Beale Street Blues" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Beale Street Blues" is in C.
What key is "Beale Street Blues" by Duke Ellington played in?
Beale Street Blues is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Beale Street Blues"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Beale Street Blues" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Beale Street Blues"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Beale Street Blues"?
"Beale Street Blues" was originally performed by Duke Ellington. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Duke Ellington can I play here?
Try "Prelude To A Kiss", "Caravan", "Come Sunday". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Does "Beale Street Blues" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Beale Street Blues" is in the key of C at 100 BPM.
What chords are in "Beale Street Blues"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of C, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.

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