Joni Mitchell - Carey Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to D,A,G keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]The wind is in from Africa, [G]last night I couldn’t sleep
Oh, you know it [F]sure is hard to [C]leave here Carey
But it’s really [G]not my home
[C]My fingernails are filthy, I got [G]beach tar on my feet
And I [F]miss my clean white [C]linen and my fancy French co[G]logne
[verse 2]
Oh Carey get out your cane, [C]and I’ll put on some [G]silver
[F]Oh you’re a mean old Daddy, but I [G]like [C]you fine
[verse 3]
Come on down to the Mermaid Café and I will [G]buy you a bottle of wine
And we’ll [F]laugh and toast to [C]nothing and smash our [G]empty glasses down
Let’s have a [C]round for these freaks and these soldiers
A [G]round for these friends of mine
Let’s have another [F]round for the bright red [C]devil
Who keeps me [G]in this tourist town
[chorus]
Come on Carey get out [C]your cane, I’ll put on some [G]silver
[F]Oh you’re a mean old Daddy, [C]but I [G]like [C]you
[verse 4]
[C]Maybe I’ll go to Amsterdam,
[G]Maybe I’ll go to Rome and [F]rent me a grand pi[C]ano
And put some [G]flowers ’round my room
But [C]let’s not talk about fare thee wells now
The [G]night is a starry dome
And they’re [F]playing that scratchy [C]rock and roll
Beneath the [G]Matala Moon
[chorus]
Come on Carey get out your [C]cane, I’ll put on some [G]silver
[F]Oh you’re a mean old Daddy, [C]but I [G]like [C]you
[verse 5]
The wind is in from Africa, [G]last night I couldn’t sleep
Oh you know it [F]sure is hard to [C]leave here
But it’s really not [G]my home
[verse 6]
[C]Maybe it’s been too long a time
Since I was [G]scrambling down in the street
Everybody [F]look for that clean white [C]linen
And that fancy [G]French cologne
[Closing]
Oh Carey get out your [C]cane, I’ll put on my finest [G]silver
We’ll [F]go to the Mermaid [C]Café, have [G]fun to[C]night
I said, [F]Oh, you’re a mean old [C]Daddy
But you’re [G]out of [C]sight
How to play Carey on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Joni Mitchell - Carey on guitar requires 3 chords and 3 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↑-↓-↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Carey uses these transitions most often: C → G (24), G → C (13), and F → C (12). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - G chord transition.
1. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
Carey chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Carey.
- Carey includes 63 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Carey contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Carey connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%
- G → F: 9%