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Desmond Dekker - Israelites Chords

Chord reference A, A7, D, E7, F, G
Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Slow [A]Get up in the morning slaving for bread sir So that every [A7]mouth can be fed [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites [F] [G]

[A]Get up in the morning slaving for bread sir So that every [A7]mouth can be fed [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites [C] [G]

[A]My wife and my kids they pack up and a leave me Darling she said I was [A7]yours to receive [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites [C]

[A]Shirt dem a tear up trousers are go I don’t want to end up like [A7]Bonnie and Clyde [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites [F] [G]

[A]After a storm there must be a calm [A]Catch me in your palm you [A7]sound your alarm [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites [F] [G]

[A] [F] [G] [A] [D] [A] [F] [G] [A] [E7]

[D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites (I wonder who I’m working for) [D]Poor [E7]me [A]Israelites

Artist Desmond Dekker
Album Intensified
Genres Reggae
Year 1968
Key A

How to Play Israelites on Guitar?

Desmond Dekker - Israelites can be played in the key of A using the A, A7, D, E7, F, G chords.

  • For A, To play A, press fret 2 on the D string with finger 2, let low E, A, high E ring open, mute G, B.
  • For A7, To play A7, let low E, A, G, high E ring open, mute D, B.
  • For D, To play D, press fret 2 on the low E string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the high E string with finger 2, let A, D ring open, mute B.
  • For E7, To play E7, let low E, D, B, high E ring open, mute A, G.
  • For F, To play F, barre fret 1 from the B string to the high E string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 4, let A ring open, mute D, G.
  • For G, To play G, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, let D, G, B ring open, mute low E, high E.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Israelites with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.