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Manzanar - Tom Russell

Manzanar

View chords used in this chart

CAPO: 3

Intro: G

verse 1

He said, my name is Nakashima

C G

And I'm a proud American

C G

I came here in '24

Am D

From my homeland in Japan

verse 2

G

And I picked your grapes and oranges

C G

Saved some money, bought a store

C G

Until Nineteen Forty-Two

Am D

Pearl Harbour and the war

verse 3

G

Came those relocation orders

C G

They took our house, the store, the car

C G

Then they drove us to the desert

Am D

To a place called Manzanar

verse 4

G

The Spanish word for "apple orchard"

C G

Though we saw no apple trees

C G

Only rows of prison barracks

Am D

With barbed wire boundaries

[Refrão]

N.C. C G

And we dream of apple blossoms

C D

Waving free beneath the stars

C G

Till we wake up in the desert

Am D

The prisoners of Manzanar

G

Manzanar

Verse 5

Fifty years, they've all but vanished

C G

And now I am an old man

C G

And I don't regret the day

Am D

That I came here from Japan

Verse 6

G

But on moonlit winter nights

C G

I often wish upon a star

C G

That I'd forget the shame and sorrow

Am D

That I felt at Manzanar

[Refrão]

N.C. C G

And we dream of apple blossoms

C D

Waving free beneath the stars

C G

Till we wake up in the desert

Am D

The prisoners of Manzanar

G

Manzanar

Outro

C G C D C G Am

D

Manzanar

G

Manzanar

How to play Manzanar

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.

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