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California Snow

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Dave Alvin/Tom Russell
This song is normally done in A with Capo 2 so that is how I'll show it although 
when I do this song I do it in C, no Capo.
[Intro]
A D A D A D A D
[Verse 1]
I'm just Atryin' to make a Dlivin'
I'm an Aold man at thirty-nDine
With Atwo kids and an Dex-wife
Who Emoved up to Riverside
I'm Aworkin' down on the Dborder
Drivin' Aback roads every Dnight
AMountains east of DEl Cajon
ENorth of the Tecate Aline
[Chorus]
Where the DCalifornia Esummer sun
Will Aburn right through your Dsoul
But Ain the winter you can Dfreeze to death
In the ECalifornia AsnowD  A  D  
[Verse 2]
AI catch the ones I'm Dable to
And watch the Aothers slip Daway
AI know some by their Dfaces
And I Eeven know some by name
I Aguess they think that Dwe're all
Movie sAtars and millionDaires
I Aguess that they Dstill believe
That Edreams come true up Ahere
[Chorus]
But I Dbet the weather's Ewarmer dAown in MexiDco
AAnd no one ever Dtells them 'bout the ECalifornia AsnowD  A  D  
[Verse 3]
ALast winter I found a Dman and wife
AJust about dayDbreak
ALayin' in a Dfrozen ditch
ESouth of the interstate
AI wrapped 'em both in Dblankets
But Ashe'd already Ddied
The Anext day we sent him Dback alone
EAcross the borderline
[Chorus]
I Adon't know where they Ecame from
Or Awhere they planned to Dgo
ABut he carried her Dall night long
Through the ECalifornia AsnowD  A  D  
[Verse 4]
ASometimes when I'm Dalone out here
I get to Athinkin' about my Dlife
AMaybe I should go to DRiverside
And try to Efix things with my wife
Or Amaybe just get in Dmy truck
And drive as Afar as I can Dgo
AAway from all the Dghosts that haunt
The ECalifornia Asnow
[Chorus]
Where the DCalifornia Esummer sun
Can Aburn right to your Dsoul
AAnd in the winter you can Dfreeze to death
In the ECalifornia AsnowD  A  D  
[Outro]
AAnd in the winter you can Dfreeze to death
In the ECalifornia AsnowD  A  D  A  D  A  D  A  

All chords in this song (3)

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California Snow

by Dave Alvin

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

Chords in this song · guitar

Dave Alvin/Tom Russell

This song is normally done in A with Capo 2 so that is how I'll show it although

when I do this song I do it in C, no Capo.

[Intro]

A D A D A D A D

[Verse 1]

A D

I'm just tryin' to make a livin'

A D

I'm an old man at thirty-nine

A D

With two kids and an ex-wife

Who moved up to Riverside

A D

I'm workin' down on the border

A D

Drivin' back roads every night

A D

Mountains east of El Cajon

E A

North of the Tecate line

[Chorus]

D E

Where the California summer sun

A D

Will burn right through your soul

A D

But in the winter you can freeze to death

E A D A D

In the California snow

[Verse 2]

A D

I catch the ones I'm able to

A D

And watch the others slip away

A D

I know some by their faces

And I even know some by name

A D

I guess they think that we're all

A D

Movie stars and millionaires

A D

I guess that they still believe

E A

That dreams come true up here

[Chorus]

D E A D

But I bet the weather's warmer down in Mexico

A D E A D A D

And no one ever tells them 'bout the California snow

[Verse 3]

A D

Last winter I found a man and wife

A D

Just about daybreak

A D

Layin' in a frozen ditch

South of the interstate

A D

I wrapped 'em both in blankets

A D

But she'd already died

A D

The next day we sent him back alone

Across the borderline

[Chorus]

A E

I don't know where they came from

A D

Or where they planned to go

A D

But he carried her all night long

E A D A D

Through the California snow

[Verse 4]

A D

Sometimes when I'm alone out here

A D

I get to thinkin' about my life

A D

Maybe I should go to Riverside

And try to fix things with my wife

A D

Or maybe just get in my truck

A D

And drive as far as I can go

A D

Away from all the ghosts that haunt

E A

The California snow

[Chorus]

D E

Where the California summer sun

A D

Can burn right to your soul

A D

And in the winter you can freeze to death

E A D A D

In the California snow

[Outro]

A D

And in the winter you can freeze to death

E A D A D A D A D A

In the California snow

About California Snow Chords by Dave Alvin

Learn how to play California Snow by Dave Alvin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “California Snow chords”, “California Snow guitar chords”, or “Dave Alvin California Snow 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 California Snow chords and for experienced players who want accurate California Snow lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, C, D, E.

FAQ — California Snow by Dave Alvin

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What key is "California Snow" in?

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