Now playing

Turtles All The Way Down

Chords

4.81,048 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Emajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/10

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 10Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

[Verse 1]
I've seen EJesus play with flames, in a lake of fire
That I was standing AinAsus4  A  Asus4  
Met the B7devil in Seattle
And spent nine months inside the lion'sE... den Esus4  E  Esus4  
Met EBuddha yet another time
And he showed me the glowing light withAin Asus4  A  Asus4  
B7But I swear that God is there, every time I glare
Into the eyes of my best.E.. friend Esus4  E  Esus4  
[Refrain]
ASays my son, it's all been done
Someday you're gonna wake up old and.E.. grayEsus4  E  Esus4  
So Ago and try to have some fun, showing warmth to everyone 
You meet and greet... and cheat along the B7way
[Refrain Fill]  
e|B7---------------------|
B|---------------------|
G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|-2-0-----------------|
E|-----4-2-0-----------|
[Verse 2]
There's a Egateway in our minds that leads somewhere out there
Far beyond this Aplane Asus4  A  Asus4  
Where B7reptile aliens made of light
Cut you open, pull out all your Epain Esus4  E  Esus4  
Tell me Ehow you make illegal
Something that we all make in our AbrainAsus4  A  Asus4  
Some B7say you might go crazy
Then again, it might make you go.E.. sane Esus4  E  Esus4  
[Refrain]
AEvery time I... take a look... inside that old and... fabled book 
I'm Ablinded and... reminded of...
The pain caused by some old man in the EskyEsus4  E  Esus4  
AMarijuana... LSD... psilocybin... DMT...
AThey all changed... the way I see... 
But Alove's the only thing... that ever saved my B7life 
[Refrain Fill]  
e|B7---------------------|
B|---------------------|
G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|-2-0-----------------|
E|-----4-2-0-----------|
[Outro]
SoE, don't waste your mind on nursery rhymes or fairy tales of blood and wine 
It's Aturtles all the A/G#way down the F#mline 
So to Aeach their own til' we go home... to other realms our souls must roam 
ATo and through... the myth that... we all call... B7space and Etime

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

"Turtles All The Way Down" dives into a mind-bending journey, questioning reality and perception with vivid, almost hallucinatory imagery. It touches on seeing "Jesus play with flames" and encounters with "reptile aliens made of light," suggesting a search for truth beyond conventional understanding. The song explores the idea that our perception of "space and time" might be just a myth, inviting a deeper look into existence. Appearing on his critically acclaimed 2014 album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, it's a quintessential Sturgill Simpson piece that blends country roots with philosophical exploration. It plays like a quest for enlightenment, challenging the listener to look past the surface of things.

AI-written from these sources:Sturgill Simpson — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All The Way Down

🎸 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

Turtles All The Way Down

by Sturgill Simpson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Asus4

Esus4

A/G#

F#m

[Verse 1]

I've seen Jesus play with flames, in a lake of fire

A Asus4 A Asus4

That I was standing in

Met the devil in Seattle

E Esus4 E Esus4

And spent nine months inside the lion's... den

Met Buddha yet another time

A Asus4 A Asus4

And he showed me the glowing light within

But I swear that God is there, every time I glare

E Esus4 E Esus4

Into the eyes of my best... friend

[Refrain]

Says my son, it's all been done

E Esus4 E Esus4

Someday you're gonna wake up old and... gray

So go and try to have some fun, showing warmth to everyone

You meet and greet... and cheat along the way

[Refrain Fill]

e|---------------------|

B|---------------------|

G|---------------------|

D|---------------------|

A|-2-0-----------------|

E|-----4-2-0-----------|

[Verse 2]

There's a gateway in our minds that leads somewhere out there

A Asus4 A Asus4

Far beyond this plane

Where reptile aliens made of light

E Esus4 E Esus4

Cut you open, pull out all your pain

Tell me how you make illegal

A Asus4 A Asus4

Something that we all make in our brain

Some say you might go crazy

E Esus4 E Esus4

Then again, it might make you go... sane

[Refrain]

Every time I... take a look... inside that old and... fabled book

I'm blinded and... reminded of...

E Esus4 E Esus4

The pain caused by some old man in the sky

Marijuana... LSD... psilocybin... DMT...

They all changed... the way I see...

A B7

But love's the only thing... that ever saved my life

[Refrain Fill]

e|---------------------|

B|---------------------|

G|---------------------|

D|---------------------|

A|-2-0-----------------|

E|-----4-2-0-----------|

[Outro]

So, don't waste your mind on nursery rhymes or fairy tales of blood and wine

A A/G# F#m

It's turtles all the way down the line

So to each their own til' we go home... to other realms our souls must roam

A B7 E

To and through... the myth that... we all call... space and time

About Turtles All The Way Down Chords by Sturgill Simpson

Learn how to play Turtles All The Way Down by Sturgill Simpson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Turtles All The Way Down chords”, “Turtles All The Way Down guitar chords”, or “Sturgill Simpson Turtles All The Way Down 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 Turtles All The Way Down chords and for experienced players who want accurate Turtles All The Way Down lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A, Asus4, B7, Esus4, B.

FAQ — Turtles All The Way Down by Sturgill Simpson

How do I play "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson 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 "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson free?

Yes. The chords for "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Turtles All The Way Down" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Turtles All The Way Down"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Turtles All The Way Down" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Turtles All The Way Down" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Sturgill Simpson below.

What key is "Turtles All The Way Down" in?

The chords for "Turtles All The Way Down" show the original chord names (including E, A, Asus4, B7, Esus4, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.