STANDELLS - "Dirty Water" Tablature

Standells were from L.A., not Boston - but producer/writer/former
Four Prep Ed Cobb reputedly wrote this song about dorm curfews at Boston
University. --AWR


"Dirty Water"
(Ed Cobb)

Intro [6X; tambourine and bass enter 2nd time, drums 3rd, organ 4th]:

[E] [A/E] [E7no3][A/E]
v v v v v v v v
-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-7---7-6---------
---------7-------|-----------------
/7---7-----------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------

(spoken:)

I'm gonna tell you a story
I'm gonna tell you about my town
I'm gonna tell you a big bad story, baby
Aww, it's all about my town

Verse 1:

E [as above]
Yeah, down by the river
Down by the banks of the river Charles (aw, that's what's happenin'
baby)

[A] [D/A] [A7no3][D/A]
v v v v v v v v
-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-12--1211--------
---------12------|-----------------
/12--12----------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------

A [as above]
That's where you'll find me
E
Along with lovers, fuggers, and thieves (aw, but they're cool people)
B
Well I love that dirty water
(B) Bb A [N.C.] E
Oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, you're the Number One place)

Verse 2:

Frustrated women (I mean they're frustrated)
Have to be in by twelve o'clock (oh, that's a shame)
But I'm wishin' and a-hopin, oh
That just once those doors weren't locked (I like to save time for
my baby to walk around)
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, yeah)

Instrumental (as per verse chords; harmonica [A] solo first four bars):

Because I love that dirty water
Oh, oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, yeah)

Coda (repeat to fade over intro riff):

Well, I love that dirty water (I love it, baby)
I love that dirty water (I love Baw-stun)
I love that dirty water (Have you heard about the Strangler?)
I love that dirty water (I'm the man, I'm the man)
I love that dirty water (Owww!)
I love that dirty water (Come on, come on) [fade]


-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers