America
View chords used in this chart
G c
In America you’re born with a silver spoon
G D
Or in the back of the bus by the light of the moon
Em C
And when you die they say “It’ll all be changing soon
G D G
And you’ll be free, you’ll be free, you’ll be free”
G C
It was two hundred years of war that lit that freedom torch
G D
Went from Southhampton fields up to the White House porch
Em C
And they’re still shooting all the kids for trying to break that yoke
G
How can you breathe?
D
How can you breathe?
G
How can you breathe?
G C
They gave a fortune away to some Wall Street bank
G D
Like a treasure was sunk on a ship already sank
Em
And they’re still standing on the deck
C
Trying to get us to walk the plank
G D G
While they’re lost at sea, lost at sea, lost at sea
G C
But I ain't never had more than ten dollars to my name
G D
And I’ve been told my whole life, “Boy you got to hide your shame”
Em C
For being born like a match set afire by the flame
G D G
But I will burn free, I will burn free, I will burn free
G C
When I look all around me, I wonder where they’ve gone
G D
All the people that I loved reduced to memories in a song
Em
I can hear them trying to remind me
C
Just remember right from wrong
G D G
Because we fought for thee, we fought for thee, we fought for thee
G C
But I see hatred in the eyes of all these people running scared
G D
Like the world’s been taken by someone who finally dared
Em
To just stand up and say we’re staying
C
We’re not going anywhere
G D G
And we will be free, we will be free, we will be free
G C
In America you’re born with a silver spoon
G D
Or in the back of the bus by the light of the moon
Em C
And when you die they say, “It’ll all be changing soon
G D G
And you’ll be free, you’ll be free, you’ll be free”
G
So I wonder which was the lie
C
The past in it’s glory
G
or the promise of a future
D
you and I may never see
Em C
‘Cause the reasons I've been given sound like bullshit to me
G D G
We’ll wait and see, wait and see, wait and see
G C
Now America, I know I’m not your favorite son
G D
But I did my time and I’m not hurting anyone
Em C
I’m just tired of living at the point of a gun
G
When will you see?
D
When will you see?
G
When will you see?
Em
When you say we’re free
C
N.C.
You don’t mean me
N.C.
You don’t mean me
How to play America
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 G. 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.