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Tennessee Flat Top Box

Chords

4.760 votes

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KeyOriginal

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Capo 1st fret
[Intro]
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    A|    A|    A|
[Verse 1]
In a lAittle cabaret, in a south Texas bEorder town,
Sat a boy and his guitar, and the people came from mAiles around.
And all the girls from there to AEustin were slippin' 'way from home
And puttin' jew'lry in hAock to take the trip to go and lEisten
To the little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top bAox.
And he would plDay...
[Guitar Solo]
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    A|    A|    A|
[Verse 2]
Well, he cAouldn't ride or wrangle, and he never cared to mEake a dime.
But give him his guitar and he'd be happy aAll the time.
And all the girls from nine to nEinety
Were snappin' fingers, tappin' toes and beggin' him, "Don't stAop!"
And hypnotized, and fascinEated
By the little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top bAox.
And he would plDay...
[Guitar Solo]
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    A|    A|    A|
[Verse 3]
Then oAne day he was gone and no one ever sEaw him 'round.
He vanished like the breeze, and they forgot him in the lAittle town.
But all the girls still dreamed abEout him
And hung around the cabaret until the doors were lAocked.
And then one day on the hit parEade
Was a little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top bAox.
And he would plDay...
[Outro]
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    D|    D|    D|    A|
|    A|    A|    A|    D|
|    A|    A|    A|    A| repeat

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

This song tells the story of a young boy in a South Texas border town with a passion for playing his acoustic guitar, referred to in the title as a "flat top box." He begins his journey performing in a local cabaret, driven purely by his love for music rather than money. His talent captivates audiences, drawing admirers from far and wide, before he ultimately achieves his dream of appearing on television. It's a tale of musical aspiration and the power of a simple instrument to launch a dream.

AI-written from these sources:Tennessee Flat Top Box — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

Tennessee Flat Top Box

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Capo 1st fret

[Intro]

A A A D

| | | | |

A A A

| | | |

[Verse 1]

A E

In a little cabaret, in a south Texas border town,

Sat a boy and his guitar, and the people came from miles around.

And all the girls from there to Austin were slippin' 'way from home

A E

And puttin' jew'lry in hock to take the trip to go and listen

To the little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top box.

And he would play...

[Guitar Solo]

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

A A A

| | | |

[Verse 2]

A E

Well, he couldn't ride or wrangle, and he never cared to make a dime.

But give him his guitar and he'd be happy all the time.

And all the girls from nine to ninety

Were snappin' fingers, tappin' toes and beggin' him, "Don't stop!"

And hypnotized, and fascinated

By the little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top box.

And he would play...

[Guitar Solo]

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

A A A

| | | |

[Verse 3]

A E

Then one day he was gone and no one ever saw him 'round.

He vanished like the breeze, and they forgot him in the little town.

But all the girls still dreamed about him

And hung around the cabaret until the doors were locked.

And then one day on the hit parade

Was a little dark haired boy that played the Tennessee flat top box.

And he would play...

[Outro]

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

D D D A

| | | | |

A A A D

| | | | |

A A A A

About Tennessee Flat Top Box Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Tennessee Flat Top Box by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tennessee Flat Top Box chords”, “Tennessee Flat Top Box guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Tennessee Flat Top Box 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 Tennessee Flat Top Box chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tennessee Flat Top Box lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E.

FAQ — Tennessee Flat Top Box by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash 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 "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Tennessee Flat Top Box" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Tennessee Flat Top Box"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Tennessee Flat Top Box" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Tennessee Flat Top Box" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Tennessee Flat Top Box" in?

The chords for "Tennessee Flat Top Box" show the original chord names (including A, D, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.