Back Door Man - Howlin' Wolf - Virtual Songbook

Back Door Man

Chords

Tempo: 78*

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Multiple possible keys*

GuitarStandard tuning

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Note: (to get the plung play the open G string with the ringfinger and palm mute a bit)

Intro

E

Chorus

E

I am a back door man

E

I am a back door man

                        G7                         E

Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand

Verse 1

E

When everybody's tryin' to sleep

E

I'm somewhere making my midnight creep

             G7                 E

Every morning, when the rooster crow

                G7   E

Something tell me,   I got to go

Chorus

E

I am a back door man

E

I am a back door man

                        G7      E        G7        E

Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand

Verse 2

E

They take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes

E

Nurse cried, please save the soul

                     G7         E

Killed him for murder, first degree

                  G7   E

Judge's wife cried,    let the man go free

Repetition: Chorus

E

I am a back door man

E

I am a back door man

                        G7                         E

Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand

Verse 3

E

Stand out there

E

Cop's wife cried, don't take him down

E

Rather be dead, six feets in the ground

E

When you come home you can eat pork and beans

G7                E

I eats mo' chicken, any man seen

Outro

E

I am a back door man

E

I am a back door man

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* Automatically estimated; not yet verified by the author.

Last update: Jun 3, 2026, 12:21 PM