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Bad Directions

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
I always take the Gback roads 
Leave the Gtraffic to everyone else 
EmI can't Dtake the Cclamor of the crowd 
I'll Ctake the C/Bscenic Droute 
Talkin' on toGmorrow 
ToGnight's only halfway done 
I Emnever was Dto be Churried about 
CPlease, C/Bjust slow Ddown 
[Chorus]
And I Cknow we all start C/Bout with bad diAmrections 
CDon't give up, 'til C/Bnow we've made it Amthrough 
'Cause it Bmmakes you more like Emthem 
When you Bmgive them what they Emwant 
The Bmneed to A#mplease Amthem 
Is to Dbelong 
[Verse 2]
Boom box on the Gdashboard 
St. GChristopher on a chain 
EmHead up Dnorth, back Ceast, down south 
Out CWest we'll C/Bdrive it Ddown 
Roads turn to Ggravel 
GSome are paved quite well 
Some are Emeven at Dodds with their Caddress now 
CCaught in a C/BroundaDbout
[Chorus]
And I Cknow we all start C/Bout with bad diAmrections 
CDon't give up, 'til C/Bnow we've made it Amthrough 
'Cause it Bmmakes you more like Emthem 
When you Bmgive them what they Emwant 
The Bmneed to A#mplease Amthem 
Is just what they Dwant
[Solo]
G     G    G    G
Em    D    C
C     C/B  D
[Verse 3]
Take the road less Gtraveled 
And Gfold all the maps away 
Put it Emall in that Dunfinished Cnovel someday 
A Cpostcard, C/BanyDway 
DAnyway... 
[Chorus]
And I Cknow we all start C/Bout with bad diAmrections 
CWe get lost, someC/Bhow we make it Amthrough 
'Cause I Cmay not know my C/Bstreets 
But I know my Amdirections 
Come Con, we'll go out aC/Bcross these aveDnues
[Outro]
G

All chords in this song (8)

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Bad Directions

by California

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/B

A#m

[Verse 1]

I always take the back roads

Leave the traffic to everyone else

Em D C

I can't take the clamor of the crowd

C C/B D

I'll take the scenic route

Talkin' on tomorrow

Tonight's only halfway done

Em D C

I never was to be hurried about

C C/B D

Please, just slow down

[Chorus]

C C/B Am

And I know we all start out with bad directions

C C/B Am

Don't give up, 'til now we've made it through

Bm Em

'Cause it makes you more like them

Bm Em

When you give them what they want

Bm A#m Am

The need to please them

Is to belong

[Verse 2]

Boom box on the dashboard

St. Christopher on a chain

Em D C

Head up north, back east, down south

C C/B D

Out West we'll drive it down

Roads turn to gravel

Some are paved quite well

Em D C

Some are even at odds with their address now

C C/B D

Caught in a roundabout

[Chorus]

C C/B Am

And I know we all start out with bad directions

C C/B Am

Don't give up, 'til now we've made it through

Bm Em

'Cause it makes you more like them

Bm Em

When you give them what they want

Bm A#m Am

The need to please them

Is just what they want

[Solo]

G G G G

Em D C

C C/B D

[Verse 3]

Take the road less traveled

And fold all the maps away

Em D C

Put it all in that unfinished novel someday

C C/B D

A postcard, anyway

Anyway...

[Chorus]

C C/B Am

And I know we all start out with bad directions

C C/B Am

We get lost, somehow we make it through

C C/B

'Cause I may not know my streets

But I know my directions

C C/B D

Come on, we'll go out across these avenues

[Outro]

About Bad Directions Chords by California

Learn how to play Bad Directions by California with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Bad Directions chords”, “Bad Directions guitar chords”, or “California Bad Directions 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 Bad Directions chords and for experienced players who want accurate Bad Directions lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Em, D, C, C/B, Am.

FAQ — Bad Directions by California

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What key is "Bad Directions" in?

The chords for "Bad Directions" show the original chord names (including G, Em, D, C, C/B, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.