Now playing

Working John Working Joe

Chords

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Working John, Working Joe (for easy guitar)             Jethro Tull
Tuning: Standard
Capo: 2nd fret
Chord Shapes: E5  OX24OO
                D5XXO23O
             Dsus4XXO233
                 DXXO232
           A5(A2) XO22OO
             Bsus4X2445X
         Cmaj7/G  332OOO
             D5/F#2XO23O
Intro:   E5   D5   Dsus4   D        D5  
Repeat Intro Sequence
Verse 1 
WE5hen I was a young man as D5all good tales begin
                                            single notes:5th string    4th string  3rd string    4th String
          A5or         A2    D5                            E5open  Ah/o   B             Dopen          G  E  
I was taught to hold out my  hand
Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence 
E5And for my pay I D5worked an honest day
                    A2         D5        E5single notes:  A   B   D   G  E  
and took what pittance I could win
Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence once 
Chorus as per Intro chord sequence
Now I'm a wE5orkinD5g John Dsus4  D  D5  
and I'm a wE5orkinD5g JoeDsus4  D  D5  
and I'm dE5oing what D5I knoDsus4wD  D5  
for God Bsus4and the Economy
Big broD5ther watches Cmaj7/Gover me
And the state E5protects aD5nd feeds meDsus4  D  D5  
And my consE5cience neveD5r leaves meDsus4  D  D5  
And I'm loyE5al to thD5e unionsDsus4  D  D5  
who protect E5me at aD5ll levelsDsus4  D  D5  
Bridge: INTRO CHORD PATTERN TWICE OVER GUITAR SOLO
Verse 2
E5Now as I grew, the D5winds of fortune blew                     
                       A5     D5         E5single notes:  A   B   D   G  E  
and the bank smiled down upon me
Bridge: Intro chord pattern Once 
E5And mortgaged D5to the hilt I threw
                      A2         D5        E5single notes:  A   B   D   G  E  
the breeze of caution behind me
Bridge: Intro chord pattern once 
Chorus as Intro chord sequence
Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe
and I'm good at what I know
And GoBsus4d and the Economy
have blessed D5me with eqCmaj7/Guality
Now I'm E5equal to D5the best of youDsus4  D  D5  
And bettE5er than D5the rest of yDsus4ouD  D5  
who would criE5ticise my D5successDsus4  D5  
in times E5of natioD5nal unrestDsus4  D5  
Guitar solo: Intro twice and then play 2 bars each of B5 A5 (Bridge notes D Db A)
                                                      B5 A5 (triplets AEA AEA D Db D)                                                     
Verse 3
Now I oD5/F#wn a horseless carriageE5  D5  
in a central-heated garaE5geD5  
And I commute eight miles a E5dayD5  
up at seven to make it paE5yD5  
I direct ten limited companE5iesD5  
with seeming consummate expE5ertisD5e
two ulcers and a heart diseE5aseD5  
a trembling feeling in both E5knees 
Chorus
 (Tacet)            Dsus4   D   D5                E5   D5    E5   Dsus4   D  D5  
I'm a working John             and I'm a working Joe

All chords in this song (13)

🎸 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

Working John Working Joe

by Jethro Tull

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Dsus4

Bsus4

D5/F#

Cmaj7/G

Working John, Working Joe (for easy guitar) Jethro Tull

Tuning: Standard

Capo: 2nd fret

Chord Shapes: E5 OX24OO

XXO23O

Dsus4

XXO233

XXO232

A5(A2) XO22OO

Bsus4

X2445X

Cmaj7/G 332OOO

D5/F#

2XO23O

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

Intro:

Repeat Intro Sequence

Verse 1

E5 D5

When I was a young man as all good tales begin

single notes:5th string 4th string 3rd string 4th String

A5 A2 D5 E5 A B D G E

or open h/o open

I was taught to hold out my hand

Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence

E5 D5

And for my pay I worked an honest day

A2 D5 E5 A B D G E

single notes:

and took what pittance I could win

Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence once

Chorus as per Intro chord sequence

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

Now I'm a working John

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

and I'm a working Joe

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

and I'm doing what I know

Bsus4

for God and the Economy

D5 Cmaj7/G

Big brother watches over me

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

And the state protects and feeds me

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

And my conscience never leaves me

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

And I'm loyal to the unions

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

who protect me at all levels

Bridge: INTRO CHORD PATTERN TWICE OVER GUITAR SOLO

Verse 2

E5 D5

Now as I grew, the winds of fortune blew

A5 D5 E5 A B D G E

single notes:

and the bank smiled down upon me

Bridge: Intro chord pattern Once

E5 D5

And mortgaged to the hilt I threw

A2 D5 E5 A B D G E

single notes:

the breeze of caution behind me

Bridge: Intro chord pattern once

Chorus as Intro chord sequence

Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe

and I'm good at what I know

Bsus4

And God and the Economy

D5 Cmaj7/G

have blessed me with equality

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

Now I'm equal to the best of you

E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5

And better than the rest of you

E5 D5 Dsus4 D5

who would criticise my success

E5 D5 Dsus4 D5

in times of national unrest

Guitar solo: Intro twice and then play 2 bars each of B5 A5 (Bridge notes D Db A)

B5 A5 (triplets AEA AEA D Db D)

Verse 3

D5/F# E5 D5

Now I own a horseless carriage

E5 D5

in a central-heated garage

E5 D5

And I commute eight miles a day

E5 D5

up at seven to make it pay

E5 D5

I direct ten limited companies

E5 D5

with seeming consummate expertise

E5 D5

two ulcers and a heart disease

a trembling feeling in both knees

Chorus

Dsus4 D D5 E5 D5 E5 Dsus4 D D5

(Tacet)

I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe

About Working John Working Joe Chords by Jethro Tull

Learn how to play Working John Working Joe by Jethro Tull with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Working John Working Joe chords”, “Working John Working Joe guitar chords”, or “Jethro Tull Working John Working Joe 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 Working John Working Joe chords and for experienced players who want accurate Working John Working Joe lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D5, Dsus4, D, Bsus4, G, D5/F#.

FAQ — Working John Working Joe by Jethro Tull

How do I play "Working John Working Joe" by Jethro Tull on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Working John Working Joe" by Jethro Tull 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 "Working John Working Joe" by Jethro Tull free?

Yes. The chords for "Working John Working Joe" by Jethro Tull are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Working John Working Joe" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Working John Working Joe"?

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

Is "Working John Working Joe" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Working John Working Joe" by Jethro Tull with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Jethro Tull below.

What key is "Working John Working Joe" in?

The chords for "Working John Working Joe" show the original chord names (including D5, Dsus4, D, Bsus4, G, D5/F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.