Cross Road Blues

by Robert Johnson
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

I went to the (C7)cross road,

fell down on my knees.

I (F7)went to the cross road,

fell down on my knees.

Asked the Lord a bove (G7)“Have mer cy,

save poor Bob, if you please.”

Mmm, (C7)stand in’ at the cross road,

I tried to flag a ride.

Stand in’ at the cross road,

I tried to flag a ride.

Ain’t no bod y seem to (G7)know me,

ev ’ry bod y pass me by.

Mmm, the sun go in’ down, boy,

dark gon’ catch me here.

Ooh (F7)wee,

boy, dark gon’ catch me here.

I have n’t got no (G7)lov in’ sweet wom an that

love and feel my care.

You can run.

you can run,

tell my friend boy Wil lie Brown.

You can (F7)run,

tell my friend boy Wil lie Brown,

Lord, that I’m (G7)stand in’ at the cross road, babe, I be (C7)lieve I’m sink in’ down.

Cross Road Blues — Classic Piano Sheet Music

7 people have learned this song

Read "Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of C. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 100 BPM.

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

About “Cross Road Blues”

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Cross Road Blues"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature C. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson played in?
Cross Road 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 "Cross Road Blues"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Cross Road 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 "Cross Road Blues"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Cross Road Blues"?
"Cross Road Blues" was originally performed by Robert Johnson. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Cross Road Blues"?
This arrangement uses 6 chords: C, C7, F, F7, Fm6, G7.
What other songs by Robert Johnson can I play here?
Try "WALKIN' BLUES", "LOVE IN VAIN BLUES", "RAMBLIN' ON MY MIND". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Cross Road Blues" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature C, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 100 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.