Jacobs Ladder
View chords used in this chart
G
Jacob was a dirt poor farm boy
C
raised at the fork in the road, in a clapboard house
and Rachel was a land baron's daughter
born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Her daddy said he wouldn't stand
C
for Rachel to waste her life with a common man
A
He tried hard to keep them apart
C D
but you can't draw lines, in a young girl's heart
C
So late one night by the harvest moon
Jacob climbed a ladder up to Rachel's room
G
He knew his place, it was right beside her
C
step by step, up to her world
head over heels for his brown eyed girl
G
and gettin' caught didn't seem to matter
A- D
G
'cause heaven was waitin' at the top of Jacob's ladder.
(Key change to A)
A
It'll be five years september
since her daddy found a ladder
D
and a note on her window sill
He swore he'd never forgive them
A
but nothin' melts a heart like a grandchild will
Now she climbs up on his knee
D
says "Grampa tell the story; the one about me"
B-
He thinks back and his eyes shine
D E
says listen child, once upon a time...
D
Late one night by the harvest moon
your daddy climbed a ladder to your momma's room
A
He knew his place, it was right beside her
D
Step by step, up to her world
head over heals for my little girl
A
and here you are, that's all that matters
B- E
'cause heaven was waitin' at the top of Jacob's ladder
A E/G# F#
E B- E
A
Oh, and an angel was waitin' at the top of Jacob's Ladder
How to play Jacobs Ladder
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 G. 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.