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Ordinary Man

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Gordon Lightfoot - Ordinary Man
## NOTE 1: ~ ~ ~ = Bass Walk-Up from  Gto              C##
## NOTE 2: ~ ~   = Bass Walk-Up from  Gto  Amor  E7to  C##
CAPO: 1st Fret
[INTRO:]   C    G      Am    G~ ~ ~ C  
[VERSE 1:]
GTry to underAmstandD  
I'm not your ordinary Fman, still I Ccan't deFny
You go D7/F#with me everywhere
When I'm Fdreaming you still D7/F#share my lonely CnigGhtsC  G  C  
[VERSE 2:]
GTry to see my AmsideD  
It's not your ordinary Fpride that keeps Cdriving me Fon
It's that D7/F#lonesome, restless feeling that you Ffeel under the gun
                                      C                     D7          G~ ~ Am  
And it leads me to the highway, but it keeps my body warm
[CHORUS:]
And as I D7wander to the Gcities and the Amtowns
I get so lonesome knowing Gyou could be aCround
And Amwhen the show is D7over, there's a GHoliday MoAmtel
                         F                        E    E7~ ~ C  
Another empty bottle and another tale to tell
[VERSE 3:]
GTry to compreAmhendD  
I'm not your ordinary Ffriend at the Cend of my Flife
I would D7/F#pray that I could be
ReFturning to the D7/F#shelter of your CloveG__C  G  C  
[VERSE 4:]
GTry to see my AmsideD  
It's not your ordinary Fpride that keeps Cdriving me Fon
It's that D7/F#lonesome, restless feeling that you Ffeel under the gun
                                      C                     D7         G~ ~ Am  
And it leads me to the highway, but it keeps my body warm
[CHORUS:]
And as I D7wander to the Gcities and the Amtowns
I get so lonesome knowing Gyou could be aCround
And Amwhen the show is D7over, there's a GHoliday MoAmtel
                             F                        E    E7~ ~ C  
And another empty bottle and another tale to tell
[VERSE 5:]
GTry to underAmstandD  
I'm not your ordinary Fman, still I Ccan't deFny
You go D7/F#with me everywhere, like a Fshadow in the gloom
I reCmember all the good times, there's a D7ghost in every room
[OUTRO:]   (## repeat and fade to end ##)
         G  C  G

All chords in this song (9)

The story behind the song

Gordon Lightfoot is celebrated as a Canadian singer-songwriter whose work helped define the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. His songs are often associated with themes of trains, shipwrecks, rivers, highways, lovers, and loneliness. "Ordinary Man" appears on his album Don Quixote, released in 1972. Playing this song can feel like stepping into a deeply human reflection on everyday existence.

AI-written from these sources:Gordon Lightfoot — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Ordinary Man

by Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D7/F#

Gordon Lightfoot - Ordinary Man

G C

## NOTE 1: ~ ~ ~ = Bass Walk-Up from to ##

G Am E7 C

## NOTE 2: ~ ~ = Bass Walk-Up from to or to ##

CAPO: 1st Fret

C G Am G C

[INTRO:] ~ ~ ~

[VERSE 1:]

G Am D

Try to understand

F C F

I'm not your ordinary man, still I can't deny

D7/F#

You go with me everywhere

F D7/F# C G C G C

When I'm dreaming you still share my lonely nights

[VERSE 2:]

G Am D

Try to see my side

F C F

It's not your ordinary pride that keeps driving me on

D7/F# F

It's that lonesome, restless feeling that you feel under the gun

C D7 G Am

~ ~

And it leads me to the highway, but it keeps my body warm

[CHORUS:]

D7 G Am

And as I wander to the cities and the towns

G C

I get so lonesome knowing you could be around

Am D7 G Am

And when the show is over, there's a Holiday Motel

F E E7 C

~ ~

Another empty bottle and another tale to tell

[VERSE 3:]

G Am D

Try to comprehend

F C F

I'm not your ordinary friend at the end of my life

D7/F#

I would pray that I could be

F D7/F# C G C G C

Returning to the shelter of your love__

[VERSE 4:]

G Am D

Try to see my side

F C F

It's not your ordinary pride that keeps driving me on

D7/F# F

It's that lonesome, restless feeling that you feel under the gun

C D7 G Am

~ ~

And it leads me to the highway, but it keeps my body warm

[CHORUS:]

D7 G Am

And as I wander to the cities and the towns

G C

I get so lonesome knowing you could be around

Am D7 G Am

And when the show is over, there's a Holiday Motel

F E E7 C

~ ~

And another empty bottle and another tale to tell

[VERSE 5:]

G Am D

Try to understand

F C F

I'm not your ordinary man, still I can't deny

D7/F# F

You go with me everywhere, like a shadow in the gloom

C D7

I remember all the good times, there's a ghost in every room

[OUTRO:] (## repeat and fade to end ##)

G C G

About Ordinary Man Chords by Gordon Lightfoot

Learn how to play Ordinary Man by Gordon Lightfoot with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ordinary Man chords”, “Ordinary Man guitar chords”, or “Gordon Lightfoot Ordinary Man 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 Ordinary Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ordinary Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, Am, E7, D, F.

FAQ — Ordinary Man by Gordon Lightfoot

How do I play "Ordinary Man" by Gordon Lightfoot on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ordinary Man" by Gordon Lightfoot 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 "Ordinary Man" by Gordon Lightfoot free?

Yes. The chords for "Ordinary Man" by Gordon Lightfoot are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Ordinary Man" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ordinary Man"?

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

Is "Ordinary Man" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ordinary Man" by Gordon Lightfoot with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Gordon Lightfoot below.

What key is "Ordinary Man" in?

The chords for "Ordinary Man" show the original chord names (including G, C, Am, E7, D, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.