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Whistlin Past The Graveyard

Chords

4.813 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/92

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 92Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

(Guitar)
[Verse]
e|---------Bm----|
B|----------3--|
G|----------4--|
D|----------4--|  (Repeat this pattern 7 times, one for each lyric line)
A|--------2-2--|
E|2-5-2-5------|
(and on the 8th time it goes up to the Chorus like so)
e|----------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|--------------------2-2-----|
A|--------2-2-4-4-5-5---------|
E|2-5-2-5---------------------|
[Chorus]
e|-G7-----------------F#7-------------------G7-----------------F#7------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------2-----------------1-----------------2----------------|
A|-----2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--4-4-1------2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--|
E|-3-3---------------2-2---------------3-3---------------2-2--------|
(And back to the Bm verse pattern shown above)
(All this fits beautifully with this Bass pattern)
[Verse]
G|-----4--4-----------|
D|----------4--4------|
A|-2-------------5--5-|
E|--------------------|
[Chorus]
G|-G7--------------------|-F#7--------------------|
D|-5--5----------------|---------------------|
A|------5--5-2--2------|-----------1--1------|
E|----------------3--3-|-2--2-4--4------2--2-|
   G7                     F#7            Bm (back to pattern)
G|------------------♫---|--------------------------------|
D|----------------5-23--|-4--4---------------------------|
A|------2--2-5--5-------|------4--4--------0---0---2-----|
E|-3--3-----------------|-----------2----2---2-----------|
[Verse 1]
    BmWell I come in on a night train       BmWith an arm full of box cars
    BmOn the wings of a magpie              BmCross a hooligan night
    BmAnd I busted up a chifforobe          BmWay out by the cocomo
   BmCooked up a mess a mulligan            BmAnd got into a fight
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack
[Verse 2]
    BmYou've probably seen me sleepin     BmOut by the railroad tracks
    BmGo on and ask the prince of darkness    BmWhat about all that smoke come from the stack
    BmSometimes I kill myself a jackal    Bmsuck out all the blood
    BmSteal myself a station wagon        BmDrive it through the mud
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack
[Verse 3]
    BmI know you seen my headlights       BmAnd the honkin' of my horn
    BmI'm callin' out my bloodhounds      BmChase the devil through the corn
    BmLast night I chugged the Mississippi    BmNow that sucker's dry as a bone
    BmBorn in a taxi cab     I'm Bmnever comin' home
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack
[Verse 4]
    BmMy eyes have seen the glory         BmOf the draining of the ditch
    BmI only come to baton rouge          BmTo find myself a witch
    BmI'm-ona snatch me up a couple of 'em         Bmevery time it rains
    BmYou see a locomotive prob'ly      Bmthinkin' it's a train
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack
[Verse 5]
    BmWhat you think is the sunshine      BmIs just a twinkle in my eye
    BmThat ring around my fingers   it's just the Bm4th of July
    BmWhen I get a little bit lonesome    And a Bmtear falls from my cheek
    BmThere's gonna be an ocean in the mBmid - dle of the week
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack
[Verse 6]
    BmI rode into town on a night train   Bmwith an arm full of box cars
    BmOn the wings of a magpie            Bmcross a hooligan night
    BmI'ma tear me off a rainbow  and weBmar it for a tie
    BmI never told the truth      so I can Bmnever tell a lie
[Chorus]
G7Whistlin' past the graveyard    SF#7teppin on a crack
I'm a G7mean motherhubbard        Papa F#7one-eyed jack

All chords in this song (3)

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Whistlin Past The Graveyard

by Tom Waits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#7

(Guitar)

[Verse]

e|-------------|

B|----------3--|

G|----------4--|

D|----------4--| (Repeat this pattern 7 times, one for each lyric line)

A|--------2-2--|

E|2-5-2-5------|

(and on the 8th time it goes up to the Chorus like so)

e|----------------------------|

B|----------------------------|

G|----------------------------|

D|--------------------2-2-----|

A|--------2-2-4-4-5-5---------|

E|2-5-2-5---------------------|

[Chorus]

G7 F#7 G7 F#7

e|------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|-------------2-----------------1-----------------2----------------|

A|-----2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--4-4-1------2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--|

E|-3-3---------------2-2---------------3-3---------------2-2--------|

(And back to the Bm verse pattern shown above)

(All this fits beautifully with this Bass pattern)

[Verse]

G|-----4--4-----------|

D|----------4--4------|

A|-2-------------5--5-|

E|--------------------|

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

G|---------------------|---------------------|

D|-5--5----------------|---------------------|

A|------5--5-2--2------|-----------1--1------|

E|----------------3--3-|-2--2-4--4------2--2-|

G7 F#7 Bm (back to pattern)

G|------------------♫---|--------------------------------|

D|----------------5-23--|-4--4---------------------------|

A|------2--2-5--5-------|------4--4--------0---0---2-----|

E|-3--3-----------------|-----------2----2---2-----------|

[Verse 1]

Bm Bm

Well I come in on a night train With an arm full of box cars

Bm Bm

On the wings of a magpie Cross a hooligan night

Bm Bm

And I busted up a chifforobe Way out by the cocomo

Bm Bm

Cooked up a mess a mulligan And got into a fight

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 2]

Bm Bm

You've probably seen me sleepin Out by the railroad tracks

Bm Bm

Go on and ask the prince of darkness What about all that smoke come from the stack

Bm Bm

Sometimes I kill myself a jackal suck out all the blood

Bm Bm

Steal myself a station wagon Drive it through the mud

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 3]

Bm Bm

I know you seen my headlights And the honkin' of my horn

Bm Bm

I'm callin' out my bloodhounds Chase the devil through the corn

Bm Bm

Last night I chugged the Mississippi Now that sucker's dry as a bone

Bm Bm

Born in a taxi cab I'm never comin' home

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 4]

Bm Bm

My eyes have seen the glory Of the draining of the ditch

Bm Bm

I only come to baton rouge To find myself a witch

Bm Bm

I'm-ona snatch me up a couple of 'em every time it rains

Bm Bm

You see a locomotive prob'ly thinkin' it's a train

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 5]

Bm Bm

What you think is the sunshine Is just a twinkle in my eye

Bm Bm

That ring around my fingers it's just the 4th of July

Bm Bm

When I get a little bit lonesome And a tear falls from my cheek

Bm Bm

There's gonna be an ocean in the mid - dle of the week

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 6]

Bm Bm

I rode into town on a night train with an arm full of box cars

Bm Bm

On the wings of a magpie cross a hooligan night

Bm Bm

I'ma tear me off a rainbow and wear it for a tie

Bm Bm

I never told the truth so I can never tell a lie

[Chorus]

G7 F#7

Whistlin' past the graveyard Steppin on a crack

G7 F#7

I'm a mean motherhubbard Papa one-eyed jack

About Whistlin Past The Graveyard Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play Whistlin Past The Graveyard by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Whistlin Past The Graveyard chords”, “Whistlin Past The Graveyard guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits Whistlin Past The Graveyard 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 Whistlin Past The Graveyard chords and for experienced players who want accurate Whistlin Past The Graveyard lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bm, B, G, D, A, E.

FAQ — Whistlin Past The Graveyard by Tom Waits

How do I play "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits 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 "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits free?

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Can I transpose "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" in?

The chords for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" show the original chord names (including Bm, B, G, D, A, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.