Crossroads
View chords used in this chart
[Intro ]
Am
[Verso 1]
Am C
I grew up at the crossroads of the Illinois Central line
G Am
All night long wed hear the whistles blow
Am C
Sometimes after midnight, my daddy'd stumble in
G Am
Voices started rising from below
C Am
Daddy had some money, he owned the grain and feed
G Am
He was a well respected man
Am C
But he drank too much whiskey, more than any man should need
G Am
He came home with an empty heart and a heavy hand.
[Refrão]
F Am G C
A rich man hears a whistle blow and he hears the sound of money
G Am
A mother hears a train that took her baby away
F C G Am
A young man hears a long slow ride to a land of milk and honey
G Em Am
And the sound of his mama crying in the kitchen, as the train rolls away.
[Verso 2]
Am C
It was a cold December dawn when I heard the front door slam
G Am
I knew he was looking for a fight
Am C
In my bedroom I lay trembling in hatred and in fear
G Am
And darkness barely touched by the morning light
C Am
Through the house he rumbled, through the house he roared
G Am
Nowhere to hide, nowhere to run
Am C
When my mama hit the floor, I swore that it would end
G Am
I set my mind on the barrel of his gun
[Refrão]
F Am G C
A rich man hears a whistle blow and he hears the sound of money
G Am
A mother hears a train that took her baby away
F C G Am
A young man hears a long slow ride to a land of milk and honey
G Em Am
And the sound of his mama crying in the kitchen, as the train rolled away.
[Verso 3]
Am C
Theres a shotgun in a box car in a freight train headed west
G Am
And me, Im in a cold car rolling south
Am C
Many are the miles in my future that I see
G Am
And no more fear inside my mothers house
C Am
We once lived in fear together now were safe but all alone
G Am
I swear at night, I can hear my mama cry
Am C
As the trains keeps rolling, and the whistle keeps blowing
G Am
At the crossroads on the Illinois Central line.
[Refrão]
F Am G C
A rich man hears a whistle blow and he hears the sound of money
G Am
A mother hears the train that took her baby away
F C G Am
A young man hears a long slow ride to a land of milk and honey
G Em Am
And the sound of his mama crying in the kitchen, as the train rolls away.
Outro
F C G Am
I hear the sound of a long slow ride to a land of milk and the honey,
Em G Em Am
And the sound of my mama crying in the kitchen as the train roll away
Am
(Hoo hoo)
How to play Crossroads
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 Am. 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.