East Los Angeles
View chords used in this chart
Capo 5
Intro: C E Am Dm (4x)
C E
The crowd began to wave
Am Dm
From the freeway overpass
C E
We joined the parade
Am Dm
right behind the marching band
C
And You said
E Am Dm
"Wave back, cause these are the best days of your life."
C
And I said
E Am Dm
"I know, I can't feel anything"
G Am
And up, up on the Ferris wheel
C G Am
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
C G
I can see your face
Am
so close to me
C G
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Am C
like a drive in movie screen
(ya know....)
C E Am Dm (2x)
C E
On a hot summer day
Am Dm
We laughed in the Polaroid
C E
Counted all the ways,
Am Dm
To slow down our time machine
C E Am
And in my mind all I could
Dm
think was that love is war
C E Am Dm
And you know I'd surrender anything
G Am
And up, up on the Ferris wheel
C G Am
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
C G
I can see your face
Am
so close to me
C G
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Am C
like a drive in movie screen
E Am
Oh no, I don't want to be another
scar on a bar stool
in East Los Angeles.
C E Am Dm
C E Am
Am (3x)
How to play East Los Angeles
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.