San Franciscan Nights
View chords used in this chart
Intro:
guitar w/snare drum:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
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-----------------|---------|-----------------|-3-----------
-0-----3-2--0----|---------|-0-----3-2---0---|-------------
^ doubled w/bass
repeat 8X w/narration:
guitar:
Em
v v v v v v v v
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-----------------|-----------------
------------02--4|-----------------
-2---2---2-------|-2---2---2--0----
-----------------|-------------2--2
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v v v v v v v v
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-----------------|-----------------
-0---0---0---0--0|-0---0---0---0--0
(Spoken:)
This following program is dedicated to the city and people of San
Francisco
Who may not know it, but they are beautiful - and so is their city
This is a very personal song, so if the viewer cannot understand it -
particularly those of you who are European residents - save up
all your bread and fly Trans-Love Airways to San Francisco, USA
Then maybe you'll understand the song
It will be worth it - if not for the sake of this song
But for the sake of your own peace of mind
bass:
Em [N.C.] [slower]
v v v v v v v v
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-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-------------0-2-
-0---------------|-----------3-----
(mind)
C Em/B Am G
/ / / / / / / /
Verse 1:
C Em/B Am G
Strobe light's beam creates dreams
C Em/B Am G
Walls move minds do too
D F C
On a warm San Franciscan night
C Dm F C
Old child, young child, feel all right
D F C
On a warm San Franciscan night
Verse 2:
Angels sing, leather wings
Jeans of blue, Harley-Davidsons too
On a warm San Franciscan night
Old angels, young angels feel all right
On a warm San Franciscan night
Bridge:
Fm
I wasn't born there
Em
Perhaps I'll die there
F G /F /D /B /G [N.C.]
There's noplace left to go
San Francisco...
Instrumental break:
guitar 1 [chords implied]:
C Em/B
v v v v
-12-13-15-13-12-13-15-13----12-13-12----12-13-12-
-------------------------15----------15----------
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guitar 2:
v v v v
-------12----------12----------------------------
-13-15----15-13-15----15-12-13-15-13-12-13-15-13-
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guitar 1:
Am G
v v v v
-------12----------12----------------------------
-13-15----15-13-15----15-12----------------------
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guitar 2:
v v v v
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----13-15-13----13----13-------------------------
-14----------14----------12----------------------
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D F C
/ / / / / / / /
C D* F C
/ / / / / / / /
Dm* F C
/ / / / / / / /
* note that the D and Dm are swapped from the verse
Verse 3:
Cop's face is filled with haight
Heavens above, he's on a street called Love
When will they ever learn
Old cop, young cop feel all right
On a warm San Franciscan Night
Bridge 2:
The children are cool
They don't raise fools
It's an American dream
Includes Indians, too
[repeat instrumental break; fade]
-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers
How to play San Franciscan Nights
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 Em. 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.