The Passenger
View chords used in this chart
G Em
It was dark and I was driving down a lonely Texas road
C D Em
the night was hot and sleep pulled at my eyes
G Em
I was thinking bout the wild times and the women that I'd had
C D Em
The deceitful things I'd done and those lies
G D
When standin' in the shadows at the side of the road
C Em
Stood the figure of a withered old man
G D
He wore a black bandana a ropin' stetson hat
C Em
With a two inch scarlet hat band
G Em
He held his wrinkled hand up as a sign to shut 'er down
C D Em
So I pulled over and stopped at his side
G Em
He opened up the door slid in and sat down
C D Em
and said my ain't it hot tonight
G D
I studied this old man and it seemed mighty strange
C Em
for him to be out here all alone
G D
and then he started talking and he told me many things
C Em
of times that both of us had known
G Em
He told me of the wild life and the women that he'd known
C D Em
How none of them had ever meant a thing
G Em
He told me of a black night much the same as this
C D Em
of the strange and awesome things he'd seen
G D
A man beside the road had raised his hand
C Em
and flagged him down So he stopped and let him in
G D
That stranger told him stories that I am hearing now
C Em
Bout the wild times and all the sin
G Em
And the car got cold and clamy and this old man looked at me
C D Em
He said boy I've come here for you
G Em
Your days of wicked sinnin' have come to an end
C D Em
As a mortal on this earth you are through
G D
Then his eyes got red and firey as he took his stetson off
C Em
To reveal his evil horns shiney and black
G D
My god the fear came o'er and my senses were all lost
C Em
I fought with him until we finally crashed
G Em
Next day they found the car at the bottom of the draw
C D Em
The young cowboy was found beside the wreck
G
The car had been consumed by fire
Em
but the cowboy had no marks
C D Em
Except the smokin' pitchfork brand upon his neck
How to play The Passenger
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.