Up On Cripple Creekby Band, The

Up On Cripple Creek is from The Band’s self-titled second album, released in 1969, and is one of their songs that almost hit the charts for them. Like many Robbie Robertson songs, it looks at the world and life of a fictional character, a truck driver who appreciates many of life’s simple pleasures.

The song features a very basic chord progression, and just two main sections, along with a short instrumental bridge with some scat singing.

This lesson goes over strumming in cut time, and touches on double cut time (if such a thing exists). It includes Robertson’s opening licks and even takes a stab at Garth Hudson’s clavinet fill at the end of each chorus.