Ballad Of Jose
View chords used in this chart
chord progression:
C Em F C
C Am F C
C Em F C
C Am F G C
(C) He wore a six-shot (Em) pistol (F) strapped against his (C) side
(C) A black full-bred (Am) stallion (F) took him for a (G) ride
(C) Across the creeks and the (Em) canyons (F) of the southwest frontier (C) land
(C) Jose, the Mexican (Am) outlaw, (F) was a (G) wanted (C) man
(C) He shot many a (Em) stranger as he (F) traveled from town to (C) town
(C) And killed all of the (Am) Rangers (F) who ever tracked him (G) down
(C) The wild-eyed band(Em)ito was the (F) leader of an outlaw (C) band
(C) That robbed the ranches and the (Am) railways (F) near the (G) Rio (C) Grande
(C) One sultry Texas (Em) evening, (F) he climbed upon a (C) train
(C) Northeast of La(Am)redo (F) in the pourin' (G) rain
(C) With a gray band(Em)ana (F) flush against his (C) face
(C) He met a blonde Texas (Am) lady (F) dressed in (G) satin and (C) lace
(C) This lovely (Em) maiden (F) caught the stranger's (C) eyes
(C) So he grabbed her (Am) by the arm and (F) took her for him (G) prize
(C) There's nothin' like a (Em) blue-eyed girl and (F) even an outlaw (C) knows
(C) That you can leave her (Am) far behind, but the (F) feelin' (G) always (C) grows
(C) If you don't (Em) make her you own at the (F) moment that you (C) can
(C) She'll belong to a (Am) wealthy (F) smooth talkin' (G) man
(C) So he took her (Em) by his side (F) with the outlaw (C) band
(C) And she rode close (Am) beside him (F) near the (G) Rio (C) Grande
(C) 'Cause the Rio Grande is the (Em) kind of place where (F) outaws get (C) away
(C) Stolen treasure is a (Am) way of life un(F)til their dyin' (G) day
(C) They find their thrill in the (Em) things they steal and they're (F) always on ther (C) run
(C) And if they win their (Am) lady, they (F) ride off (G) into the (C) sun
(C) He wore a six-shot (Em) pistol (F) strapped against his (C) side
(C) A black full-bred (Am) stallion (F) took him for a (G) ride
(C) Across the creeks and the (Em) canyons of the (F) southwest frontier (C) land
(C) Jose, the Mexican (Am) outlaw, (F) was a (G) wanted (C) man
How to play Ballad Of Jose
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 C. 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.