Going to California
View chords used in this chart
Intro: D (D9 D D4 D4+) D
G
Spent my days with a woman unkind
D
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
G
Made up my mind to make a new start
D
Going to California with an aching in my heart
G
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
D
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
Dm D9/B D D4 – 2x | (D9 D)
G
Took my chances in a big jet plane
D
Never let them tell you that they’re all the same
G
Oooh.. The sea was red and the sky was grey
D
Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today
G
The mountains and the canyons start to tremble and shake
D
As the children of the sun began to awake
Dm
Seems that the wrath of the gods
got a punch on the nose
and it started to flow
A7 A4 A9- A7 A4 A9-
I think it might be sinking
Dm
Throw me a line
if I reach it in time
I’ll meet you up there
A7 A4 A9- A7 A4 A9-
where the path runs straight and high
D G
To find a queen without a king
D
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings, la la la la..
G
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
D
Tryin’ to find a woman who’s never, never been born
G
standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams
D
Telling myself it’s not as hard as it seems
Dm D9/B D D4 – 2x | (D9 D)...
How to play Going to California
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.