Highwayman
View chords used in this chart
Capo 1
Am
Intro: Bm
verse 1
Am G F Am
Bm A G Bm
I was a highwayman, along the coach roads I did ride,
G F G
A G A
Sword and pistol by my side,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade,
Am G F G C
Bm A G A D
The bastards hung me in the spring of 25,
Am F G
Bm G A
But I am still alive.
verse 2
Am G F G Am
Bm A G A Bm
I was a sailor, I was born upon the tide,
G F G
A G A
With the sea I did abide,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
I sailed a schooner round the horn of Mexico,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
I went aloft and furled the main sail in a blow,
Am G F G C
Bm A G A D
And when the yards broke off they say that I got killed,
Am F G
Bm G A
But I am living still.
verse 3
Am G F Am
Bm A G Bm
I was a dam builder, across a river deep and wide,
G F G
A G A
Where steel and water did collide,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below,
Am G F G C
Bm A G A D
They buried me in that gray tomb that knows no sounds,
Am F G
Bm G A
But I am still around.
Bridge C C/D Am G F Em Dm F G C
D D/C# Bm A G D/F# Em G A D
I'll always be around, and around, and around, and around, and around.
verse 4
Am G F Am
Bm A G Bm
I'll fly a starship across the universe divide,
G F G
A G A
And when I reach the other side,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can,
Dm Am G F
Em Bm A G
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again,
Am G F G C
Bm A G A D
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain,
Am F G
Bm G A
But I will remain,
Outro: C C/D Am G F Em Dm F G C
D D/C# Bm A G D/F# Em G A D
And I'll be back again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
How to play Highwayman
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.