Etta James - All I Could Do Was Cry

“all i could do was cry”
etta james
at last ( 1960 )

the chord progression here is relatively simple , although effective . what
really makes this song stand out is the wrenching delivery that james throws
behind it , and the power with which she spits even just that second “rice”
makes it clear that she is not a woman to be trifled with . although this
song can be played with a capo on the first fret ( and probably should be if
you plan on using the delicate arpeggiation of the original ) it sounds great
with a single guitar belting out simple barre chords and a singer with A
voice big enough to do it justice .

G# C# D# G#

G# C# D# G#
i heard church bells ring
C# D# G#
i heard a choir singing
C# D# G# Fm
i saw my love walk down the aisle
C# D# G#
on her finger he placed a ring
( n . C . )
whoahhhh whoah . .

C# D# G#
i saw them holding hands
C# D# G
she was standing there with my man
C# D# G# Fm
i heard them promise , “’til death do us part”
C# D# G#
each word was a pain in my heart
chorus :
C# D# G#
all i could do was cry
all i could do was cry
C# D# G# Fm
i was losing the man that i love
C# D# G#
and all i could do was cry

C# D# G#
and now the wedding is over
C# D# G#
rice , rice has been thrown over their heads
C# D# G# Fm
for them life has just begun
C# D# G#
but mine is at an end
ohh oh . . . ( chorus )