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Downtown La

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
Am  G
D  Am
Am  G
D  Am
  G   Am(x3)
G  D  Am
[Verse 1]
AmDowntown L.A. is a Gdepressing place
You can Dsee young men with deep Amlines in their face
AmThey could all be something if Gsomebody cared
But Dnobody knows they're even Amdown there
[Bridge 1]
GOld woman walking with a Amsack on her back
GPicking up the garbage people Amput out back
GMen down there trying to Amwalk the line
GTrading their soul for a Dbottle of Amwine
[Verse 2]
AmIn the inner city it aGin't no good
It's a Dlong, long way from AmHollywood
AmBad kind of people got a Ghold of the street
They got Dsomething that the Ampoor people need
[Bridge 2]
At Gtwo in the morning they Ambust your head
GFat chance walking you'll Amend up dead
GIt's the law of the jungle with a Amgun and a knife
If you Gstay long enough you Dlose your Amlife
[Solo]
Am  G
D  Am
Am  G
D  Am
  G   Am(x3)
G  D  Am
[Verse 3]
AmMan down there he Gcouldn't be lying
He was Dsleeping in the street and he Amcouldn't keep from crying
AmSaid he'd been there for Gtwenty one years
Through the Dbars and the brawls and the Amblues and the tears
[Bridge 3]
GProp up the front the Amback falls down
GAll around the canyons of AmL.A. town
GWhen he asked me for a dollar I Amlooked him in his face
GDowntown L.A. is a Ddepressing Amplace
[Outro]
Am  G
D  Am
Am  G
D  Am
  G   Am(x3)
G  D  Am

All chords in this song (3)

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Downtown La

by J.J. Cale

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

Am G

D Am

Am G

D Am

G Am

(x3)

G D Am

[Verse 1]

Am G

Downtown L.A. is a depressing place

D Am

You can see young men with deep lines in their face

Am G

They could all be something if somebody cared

D Am

But nobody knows they're even down there

[Bridge 1]

G Am

Old woman walking with a sack on her back

G Am

Picking up the garbage people put out back

G Am

Men down there trying to walk the line

G D Am

Trading their soul for a bottle of wine

[Verse 2]

Am G

In the inner city it ain't no good

D Am

It's a long, long way from Hollywood

Am G

Bad kind of people got a hold of the street

D Am

They got something that the poor people need

[Bridge 2]

G Am

At two in the morning they bust your head

G Am

Fat chance walking you'll end up dead

G Am

It's the law of the jungle with a gun and a knife

G D Am

If you stay long enough you lose your life

[Solo]

Am G

D Am

Am G

D Am

G Am

(x3)

G D Am

[Verse 3]

Am G

Man down there he couldn't be lying

D Am

He was sleeping in the street and he couldn't keep from crying

Am G

Said he'd been there for twenty one years

D Am

Through the bars and the brawls and the blues and the tears

[Bridge 3]

G Am

Prop up the front the back falls down

G Am

All around the canyons of L.A. town

G Am

When he asked me for a dollar I looked him in his face

G D Am

Downtown L.A. is a depressing place

[Outro]

Am G

D Am

Am G

D Am

G Am

(x3)

G D Am

About Downtown La Chords by J.J. Cale

Learn how to play Downtown La by J.J. Cale with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Downtown La chords”, “Downtown La guitar chords”, or “J.J. Cale Downtown La 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 Downtown La chords and for experienced players who want accurate Downtown La lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, G, D, A.

FAQ — Downtown La by J.J. Cale

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Can I transpose "Downtown La" to a different key?

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What key is "Downtown La" in?

The chords for "Downtown La" show the original chord names (including Am, G, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.