Recorded by Bob Dylan on Bob Dylan (1961)
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem
Played in Open D/E tuning. The song is played in E, so either tune in open E or (recommended) in open D with a capo on the 2nd fret. The basic chords are:
E 000000 A 020120 B x02100
The most dominant riff that goes through the whole song, or rather: wherever there is an E chord, is (it is mainly played on the bass strings, but of course it doesn't matter if more strings are sounding):
: . . . : . . . |-0---------------|------------------- |-0---------------|------------------- |-0---------------|------------------- |-0---------------|-3---0-5---0-3----- |-0---------------|-3---0-5---0-3----- |-0---------------|-3---0-5---0-3-----
The verses end with a different lick:
: . . . : |-----------------|-------- |-----------------|-------- |-----------------|-------- |-3---0-----------|-------- |---------3p0-----|-------- |-------------3---|-0------
There are other riffs, but they are all mainly variations on the same theme: open strings and strings stopped on the 3rd fret. One might even use one's own imagination...
E
Highway 51 runs right by my baby's door
A E
Highway 51 runs right by my baby's door
B
If I don't get the girl I'm loving
E
Won't go down to Highway 51 no more.
Well, I know that highway like I know my hand
Yes, I know that highway like I know the back of my hand
Running from up Wisconsin
way down to no man's land.
Well, if I should die before my time should come
And if I should die before my time should come
Won't you bury my body
out on the Highway 51.
Highway 51 runs right by my baby's door
I said, Highway 51 runs right by my baby's door
If I don't get the girl I'm loving
Won't go down to Highway 51 no more.