Johnny Cash - Cocaine Blues 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]Early one mornin’ while makin’ the rounds, I took a shot of cocaine and I
[G]Shot my woman down. I went right home and I went to bed.
[C]I stuck that lovin’ .44 beneath my head
[verse 2]
[C]Got up next mornin’ and I grabbed that gun, took a shot of cocaine and
[G]Away I run. Made a good run but I run too slow
[C]They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico.
[verse 3]
[C]Late in the hot joints takin’ the pills, in walked the sheriff from
[G]Jericho Hill. He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown.
[C]You’re the dirty hack that shot your woman down.
[verse 4]
[C]Said yes, oh yes my name is Willy Lee, if you’ve got the warrant just
[G]A-read it to me. Shot her down because she made me slow.
[C]I thought I was her daddy but she had five more.
[verse 5]
[C]When I was arrested I was dressed in black, they put me on a train and they
[G]Took me back. Had no friend for to go my bail.
[C]They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail
[verse 6]
[C]Early next mornin’ about a half past nine, I spied the sheriff coming
[G]Down the line. Talked and he coughed as he cleared his throat, he said
[C]Come on you dirty heck into that district court.
[verse 7]
[C]Into the courtroom my trial began where I was handled by
[G]Twelve honest men. Just before the jury started out
[C]I saw the little judge commence to look about.
[verse 8]
[C]In about five minutes in walked a man, Holding the verdict in
[G]His right hand. The verdict read in the first degree.
[C]I hollered Lawdy Lawdy, have a mercy on me.
[verse 9]
[C]The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen 99 years in the
[G]Folsom pen. 99 years underneath that ground.
[C]I can’t forget the day I shot that bad bitch down.
[Closing]
[C]Come on you’ve gotta listen
[F]Unto me, [G]lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine [C]be.
How to play Cocaine Blues on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Johnny Cash - Cocaine Blues 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.
Cocaine Blues uses these transitions most often: G → C (10), C → G (9), and C → F (1). 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. C → F chord transition
To move from C to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. F → G chord transition
To move from F to G;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G 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.
Cocaine Blues chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Cocaine Blues.
- Cocaine Blues includes 21 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Cocaine Blues contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Cocaine Blues 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%