Railroad Boy
View chords used in this chart
Intro: Am E7 Am G/B C Em/B Am F Am
verse 1
Am E7 Am
She went upstairs to make her bed
G/B C Em/B Am
And not a word to her mother said.
Am E7 Am
Her mother she went upstairs too
Am G/B C Em/B Am
Saying, "Daughter, oh daughter, what's troublin' you?"
verse 2
Am E7 Am
"Oh mother dear I cannot tell
G/B C Em/B Am
That railroad boy that I love so well.
Am E7 Am
He's courted me my life away
G/B C Em/B Am
And now at home he will not stay."
verse 3
Am E7 Am
"There is a place in London town
G/B C Em/B Am
That rail-road boy goes and sits him down.
Am E7 Am
And he takes a strange girl on his knee
Am G/B C Em/B Am
And he tells to her what he won't tell me."
Break
Am E7 Am G/B C Em/B Am F Am
verse 4
Am E7 Am
Her father he came home from work
G/B C Em/B Am
Sayin', "Where's my daughter, she seems so hurt"
Am E7 Am
He went upstairs to give her hope
G/B C Em/B Am
An' he found her hangin' by a rope.
Short verse
Am E7 Am
He took his knife and he cut her down
G/B C Em/B Am
And on her bosom these words he found:
Verse 5
Am E7 Am
"Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
G/B C Em/B Am
Put a mar-ble stone at my head and feet,
Am E7 Am
And at my breast, put a white snow dove
Am G/B C Em/B Am G/B C Em/B Am F Am
To tell the world that I died of love.
How to play Railroad Boy
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.