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Shades Of Gray

Chords

5.080 votes

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Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Capo 5
[Intro]
Am
[Verse 1]
AmWe made Oklahoma a Clittle after 3
GRandy, his brother Bob and my old GMAmC
We Amhad some moonshine whisky
and Csome of Bob's homegrown
We were Gso messed up we didn't know
if we were drunk or Amstoned
[Verse 2]
AmRandy was a sad-sack, Ctall, kinda frail
GBob was a raving maniac, crazier than Amhell
They Ambeen kicked out of high school Cseveral years ago
for Gpushin' over port-a-cans at the 4-H rodeAmo
[Verse 3]
Since Amthen they've done their little dance
Cright outside the law
Popped Gtwice in Oklahoma, once in ArkanAmsas
and I Amdon't know what possessed me
to Cwant to tag along
'Cause GI was raised a Christian
and I knew right from Amwrong
[Chorus]
  FRight or wrong, black or Cwhite
  GCross the line you're gonna Ampay
  CIn the Gdawn before the Amlight
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
[Verse 4]
We Amstole two Charolais heifers from
CRandy's sweetheart's paw
GSold them at the livestock sale
outside of WichiAmta
We Amgot nine hundred dollars and Cnever did suspect
the Gworld of hurt we'd be in once
we cashed that Amcheck
[Verse 5]
Next Amday we heard the story
on the Clocal radio
GMade our plans that very night
to go to MexiAmco
And I Amswear we would have made it
if it Cwasn't for the shine
GI got sick about the time we crossed
that Kansas Amline
[Chorus]
  FRight or wrong, black or Cwhite
  GCross the line you're gonna Ampay
  CIn the Gdawn before the lAmight
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
[Verse 6]
I was Amlyin' in the bar ditch
Cprayin' I would die
when a Glight come on above us
and a voice come from the Amsky
A Amhalf a dozen unmarked cars
came Cscreeching to a halt
They grabbed GBob, he started screamin'
it was all my Amfault
[Verse 7]
There were Ammen and dogs
and helicopters Cbuzzin' all around
They had the Gbrothers on the
pickup hood and me down on the Amground
AmBob flew all to pieces but
CRandy he held tight
when a Gblack man in a suit and tie
stepped out into the Amlight
He Amtold his men to turn us loose
Cthey put down their guns
He said these Gare just some
sorry kids, they ain't the Amones
[Chorus]
  FRight or wrong, black or Cwhite
  GCross the line you're gonna Ampay
  CIn the Gdawn before the Amlight
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
[Verse 8]
They Amleft us by the roadside
downChearted and alone
GRandy got behind the wheel
Said boys, I'm going Amhome
We Amturned around to face our fate
hungCover but alive
on that Gmornin' in late April,
Oklahoma, '9Am5
[Chorus]
  FRight or wrong, black or Cwhite
  GCross the line you're gonna Ampay
  CIn the Gdawn before the Amlight
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
  FLive and dGie by shades of Amgray
Repeat intro
Progression (no capo):
Verse:
Dm  F  C  Dm
Chorus:
Bb  F  C  Dm
C  Dm  F C Dm

All chords in this song (6)

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Shades Of Gray

by Robert Earl Keen

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Capo 5

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

Am C

We made Oklahoma a little after 3

G Am

Randy, his brother Bob and my old GMC

We had some moonshine whisky

and some of Bob's homegrown

We were so messed up we didn't know

if we were drunk or stoned

[Verse 2]

Am C

Randy was a sad-sack, tall, kinda frail

G Am

Bob was a raving maniac, crazier than hell

Am C

They been kicked out of high school several years ago

G Am

for pushin' over port-a-cans at the 4-H rodeo

[Verse 3]

Since then they've done their little dance

right outside the law

G Am

Popped twice in Oklahoma, once in Arkansas

and I don't know what possessed me

to want to tag along

'Cause I was raised a Christian

and I knew right from wrong

[Chorus]

F C

Right or wrong, black or white

G Am

Cross the line you're gonna pay

C G Am

In the dawn before the light

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

[Verse 4]

We stole two Charolais heifers from

Randy's sweetheart's paw

Sold them at the livestock sale

outside of Wichita

Am C

We got nine hundred dollars and never did suspect

the world of hurt we'd be in once

we cashed that check

[Verse 5]

Next day we heard the story

on the local radio

Made our plans that very night

to go to Mexico

And I swear we would have made it

if it wasn't for the shine

I got sick about the time we crossed

that Kansas line

[Chorus]

F C

Right or wrong, black or white

G Am

Cross the line you're gonna pay

C G Am

In the dawn before the light

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

[Verse 6]

I was lyin' in the bar ditch

prayin' I would die

when a light come on above us

and a voice come from the sky

A half a dozen unmarked cars

came screeching to a halt

They grabbed Bob, he started screamin'

it was all my fault

[Verse 7]

There were men and dogs

and helicopters buzzin' all around

They had the brothers on the

pickup hood and me down on the ground

Bob flew all to pieces but

Randy he held tight

when a black man in a suit and tie

stepped out into the light

He told his men to turn us loose

they put down their guns

He said these are just some

sorry kids, they ain't the ones

[Chorus]

F C

Right or wrong, black or white

G Am

Cross the line you're gonna pay

C G Am

In the dawn before the light

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

[Verse 8]

They left us by the roadside

downhearted and alone

Randy got behind the wheel

Said boys, I'm going home

We turned around to face our fate

hungover but alive

on that mornin' in late April,

Oklahoma, '95

[Chorus]

F C

Right or wrong, black or white

G Am

Cross the line you're gonna pay

C G Am

In the dawn before the light

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

F G Am

Live and die by shades of gray

Repeat intro

Progression (no capo):

Verse:

Dm F C Dm

Chorus:

Bb F C Dm

C Dm F C Dm

About Shades Of Gray Chords by Robert Earl Keen

Learn how to play Shades Of Gray by Robert Earl Keen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Shades Of Gray chords”, “Shades Of Gray guitar chords”, or “Robert Earl Keen Shades Of Gray 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 Shades Of Gray chords and for experienced players who want accurate Shades Of Gray lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, G, F, A, Dm.

FAQ — Shades Of Gray by Robert Earl Keen

How do I play "Shades Of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Shades Of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen 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 "Shades Of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen free?

Yes. The chords for "Shades Of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Shades Of Gray" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Shades Of Gray"?

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

Is "Shades Of Gray" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Shades Of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Robert Earl Keen below.

What key is "Shades Of Gray" in?

The chords for "Shades Of Gray" show the original chord names (including Am, C, G, F, A, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.