Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny 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 A,D keys to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]
There’s a [G]house on a hill
By a [C]worn down weathered old [G]mill
In the valley be[D]low where the river winds
There’s no such thing as bad [G]times
[chorus]
[G]And a soft southern flame
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny’s her [G]name
And she wakes me [D]up when the sun goes down
And the wheels of love go [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[interlude]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
[verse 2]
When a [G]new day begins
I go [C]down to the cotton [G]gin
And I make my [D]time worth while to them
Then I climb back up a[G]gain
[verse 3]
[G]And she waits by the door
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny I’m [G]sore
And she rubs my [D]feet while the sun goes down
And the wheel of love goes [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[interlude]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
[Closing]
In the [G]hot, sickly south
When they [C]say we’ll shut my [G]mouth
I can never be [D]free from the cotton grind
But I know I got what’s [G]mine
[chorus]
[G]She’s a soft southern flame
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny’s her [G]name
She wakes me [D]up when the sun goes down
And the wheels of love go [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[outro]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
How to play Cotton Jenny on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny on guitar requires 5 chords and 6 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.
Cotton Jenny uses these transitions most often: G → C (15), D → G (12), and C → G (11). 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 G - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
3. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- 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 B string fret 2.
4. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
5. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
6. C → G7 chord transition
To move from C to G7;
- 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 1.
Cotton Jenny chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Cotton Jenny.
- Cotton Jenny includes 59 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Cotton Jenny contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Cotton Jenny connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → D: 11%