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Desperado

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Gmajor

90BPM

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capo on 4th fret or without capo in transpose 4+
DespeGradG7o, why don't you Ccome to your sCmenses ?
You been Gout ridin' feEm7nces for A7so long noD7w
Oh, you're a Ghard oneG7, I know that Cyou got your reaCmsons, 
These Gthings that B7are pleEm7asin' you can A7hurt you D7somehowG  
DDon't you Emdraw the queen of Bmdiamonds boy,
She'll Cbeat you if she's Gable,
You know the Em7queen of hearts is Calways your best GbetD  
Now it Emseems to me some Bmfine things have been Claid upon your Gtable
But you Emonly want the A7ones you can't Am7get
DDeD7sperGadoG7, oh you ain't Cgettin' no youCmnger,
Your Gpain and your huEm7nger, they're A7drivin' you D7home
And GfreedomG7, well, that's just Csome people taCmlkin'
Your Gprison B7is waEm7lkin' through this A7world all D7aloneG  
DDon't your Emfeet get cold in the Bmwinter time ?
The Csky won't snow and Gthe sun won't shine
It's Em7hard to tell the Cnight time from the GdayD  
You're Emlosin' all your Bmhighs and lows
Ain't it Cfunny how the Gfeelin' goes aAm7way
DDesD7perGadoG7, why don't you Ccome to your seCmnses
Come Gdown from Dyour feEmncesA7, open the D7gate
It may be Grainin'G7,  but there's a Crainbow abovCme you
You better Glet someB7body Emlove you,C  G  Am7  
You better Glet someB7body Emlove you beAm7fore it's D7too Glate

All chords in this song (12)

The story behind the song

"Desperado" finds Linda Ronstadt singing a tender but firm plea to someone lost in their own solitude, urging them to open up to love. It's a song about recognizing when the freedom you cling to is actually isolating you, "just some people talkin'," and that true connection is waiting. The lyrics paint a picture of someone hardened by life, perhaps afraid of being vulnerable, but the gentle melody carries an invitation to come to their senses before it's too late. It’s a poignant reminder that even the most self-reliant among us needs to let somebody love them.

AI-written from these sources:Linda Ronstadt — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

Desperado

Desperado

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Chord Book

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Desperado

by Linda Ronstadt

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

Am7

capo on 4th fret or without capo in transpose 4+

G G7 C Cm

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses ?

G Em7 A7 D7

You been out ridin' fences for so long now

G G7 C Cm

Oh, you're a hard one, I know that you got your reasons,

G B7 Em7 A7 D7 G

These things that are pleasin' you can hurt you somehow

D Em Bm

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy,

C G

She'll beat you if she's able,

Em7 C G D

You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Em Bm C G

Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table

Em A7 Am7

But you only want the ones you can't get

D D7 G G7 C Cm

Desperado, oh you ain't gettin' no younger,

G Em7 A7 D7

Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home

G G7 C Cm

And freedom, well, that's just some people talkin'

G B7 Em7 A7 D7 G

Your prison is walkin' through this world all alone

D Em Bm

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time ?

C G

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine

Em7 C G D

It's hard to tell the night time from the day

Em Bm

You're losin' all your highs and lows

C G Am7

Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away

D D7 G G7 C Cm

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses

G D Em A7 D7

Come down from your fences, open the gate

G G7 C Cm

It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you

G B7 Em C G Am7

You better let somebody love you,

G B7 Em Am7 D7 G

You better let somebody love you before it's too late

About Desperado Chords by Linda Ronstadt

Learn how to play Desperado by Linda Ronstadt with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Desperado chords”, “Desperado guitar chords”, or “Linda Ronstadt Desperado 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 Desperado chords and for experienced players who want accurate Desperado lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, G7, C, Cm, Em7, A7.

FAQ — Desperado by Linda Ronstadt

How do I play "Desperado" by Linda Ronstadt on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Desperado" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Desperado"?

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

Is "Desperado" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Desperado" in?

The chords for "Desperado" show the original chord names (including G, G7, C, Cm, Em7, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.