Alfreds Second Line
View chords used in this chart
[Intro ]
| D Bm | Em E A | D Bm | Em A |
[Verso 1]
D A
Down in old Calliope,
D A
where the hard days never end,
G D
Alfred learned to keep on walking,
G A
learned to stand and learned to bend.
D
Sirens echoed through the nighttime,
F#m G
dreams were hard to find,
but he said,
D
"You can't chain a heart
D
or lock a free mind."
[Refrão]
D
Let the horns ring loud,
D A
let the drums roll on.
A A
New Orleans keeps singing
A D
from dusk till dawn.
Bm
Hand in hand,
D
street by street,
D G
we won't leave nobody behind.
D D
Justice keeps on dancing,
A G
one step at a time.
{Solo}
| d Bm | Em A | D
[Verso 2]
{Bm}| Em {A}| D
Then Katrina came like thunder,
D D
washed away so much.
A G
Still he brought the people together,
D D
built hope with working hands.
A
Not for money,
D
not for fame,
D F#m
just to do what's right.
G D
When we stand together,
D
we shine our light.
[Ponte]
A
Who will stand?
D
We will!
D
Who won't back down?
D
We won't!
A A
Who will lift this town?
G | G |
All of us!
A C A
Let the brass keep playing,
D D
let the people sing.
A A
Every little victory
A A
makes freedom ring.
| D | D | D | D | A | A | D | D | D | D | A | A | A G | G# A |
{Final Chorus}
A
Let the horns ring loud,
D D
let the drums roll on.
A A
New Orleans keeps singing
D A
from dusk till dawn.
D D
From Calliope
D D
to the river's bend,
G G
every heart belongs.
D D
We keep marching together,
A
and we keep moving on.
Outro
D D
Second line...
A
Step by step...
A
We keep walking.
A
We keep singing.
A D
We keep rising.......
| D | D | D | A | G | A | A | D |
How to play Alfreds Second Line
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.