Now playing

Carmelita

Chords

4.7580 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Emajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Carmelita chords *
 A   E2x
A
I hear Emariachi static on the radio,
and the tubes they glow in the B7dark.
And I'm there with her in Ensenada,
when I'm here in Echo EPark
ECarmeAlita, hold me tighter,
I Ethink I'm sinking Adown.
And I'm Eall strung out on B7heroin,
on the outskirts of Etown.
Well I'm Esitting here playing solitaire,
with my pearl handled B7deck.
The county won't give me no more methadone,
and they cut off your welfare Echeck.
ECarmeAlita, hold me tighter,
I Ethink I'm sinking Adown.
And I'm Eall strung out on B7heroin,
on the outskirts of Etown.
E  B7  E    E A  E  A  E  B7 E
Well I Epawned my Smith Corona,
and I went to meet my B7man.
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street,
by the Pioneer Chicken EStand.
ECarmeAlita, hold me tighter,
I Ethink I'm sinking Adown.
And I'm Eall strung out on B7heroin,
on the outskirts of Etown.
ECarmeAlita, hold me tighter,
I Ethink I'm sinking Adown.
And I'm Eall strung out on B7heroin,
on the outskirts of Etown.
E A
Capo II
  A= G  
  E= D  
 B7= A7  

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

"Carmelita" paints a picture of longing and desperation on the fringes of a city, where a quiet moment with a loved one offers a fragile comfort against a hard life. The lyrics evoke the static of a radio playing mariachi music, setting a scene of a couple holding tight on the outskirts of town, perhaps by a familiar landmark like the Pioneer Chicken Stand. Warren Zevon, known for his "pulp-fiction imagination" and ability to sketch vivid stories, recorded this country-rock ballad on his 1976 self-titled album. It's a song that captures the tender vulnerability and longing often found in Zevon's ballads, even amidst his more action-packed tales.

AI-written from these sources:Carmelita (song) — Wikipedia ↗Warren Zevon — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Carmelita

Carmelita

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Carmelita

by Warren Zevon

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Carmelita chords *

A E

I hear mariachi static on the radio,

and the tubes they glow in the dark.

And I'm there with her in Ensenada,

when I'm here in Echo Park

E A

Carmelita, hold me tighter,

E A

I think I'm sinking down.

E B7

And I'm all strung out on heroin,

on the outskirts of town.

Well I'm sitting here playing solitaire,

with my pearl handled deck.

The county won't give me no more methadone,

and they cut off your welfare check.

E A

Carmelita, hold me tighter,

E A

I think I'm sinking down.

E B7

And I'm all strung out on heroin,

on the outskirts of town.

E B7 E E A E A E B7 E

Well I pawned my Smith Corona,

and I went to meet my man.

He hangs out down on Alvarado Street,

by the Pioneer Chicken Stand.

E A

Carmelita, hold me tighter,

E A

I think I'm sinking down.

E B7

And I'm all strung out on heroin,

on the outskirts of town.

E A

Carmelita, hold me tighter,

E A

I think I'm sinking down.

E B7

And I'm all strung out on heroin,

on the outskirts of town.

E A

Capo II

A G

E D

B7 A7

About Carmelita Chords by Warren Zevon

Learn how to play Carmelita by Warren Zevon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Carmelita chords”, “Carmelita guitar chords”, or “Warren Zevon Carmelita chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Carmelita chords and for experienced players who want accurate Carmelita lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E, B7, G, D, A7.

FAQ — Carmelita by Warren Zevon

How do I play "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon free?

Yes. The chords for "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Carmelita" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Carmelita" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Carmelita"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Carmelita" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Carmelita" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Warren Zevon below.

What key is "Carmelita" in?

The chords for "Carmelita" show the original chord names (including A, E, B7, G, D, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.