Rainbow Man
View chords used in this chart
C G
I was born in Alabama, but I never knew my Momma.
Bb F
She gave me away at three months old.
C G
Some folks in Mississippi took me in an' kept me,
Bb F
An' treated me just like I was their own.
Am G F
A Holiness preacher man's daughter,
Dm F G
And a hard-working sharecropper father.
C G
An' my real Momma was Apache, my real Daddy? Hell, don't ask me.
Bb F
Momma says she don't remember him.
C G
An' I'm sure somewhere in my history, I've got some slave blood in me.
Bb F
An' some folks think I look Mexican.
Am G F
I never really fit in any place,
Dm F G
'Cause there's always a part of me to hate.
F
I'm the rainbow man.
C
That's who I am.
G C
I'm a little white an' black an' red and tanned.
F C/E Dm Gsus
I've got all these different colors in my skin.
C
I'm the rainbow man.
C G
Well, I know you may doubt it, but if you stop an' think about it,
Bb F
There's one common thing that we've all got.
C G
People from all countries come here because they're hungry,
Bb F
For what's cookin' in America's meltin' pot.
Am G F
We're all different but the same.
Dm G
Red's the only color in our veins.
F
And I'm the rainbow man.
C
Livin' in a rainbow land.
G C
I'm white an' black an' yellow an' brown an' red and tanned.
F C/E Dm Gsus
And I'm so proud of all the colors that I am:
C
I'm the rainbow man.
F C/E Dm Gsus
All these colors make me American,
C Bb C
I'm the rainbow man.
How to play Rainbow Man
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 C. 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.