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Route 23

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
D F#m G A D
[Verse]
DWell I spent my whole life since I was Ghigh as a kneDe
By thDat two-lane blacktop they call RAoute 23
My daDddy ran a service station
And the pGumps they did shDine
I'd waDtch him wash the windF#mshields, keep the olGd look to that mDind
[Verse]
Well the daDys they were long, but the mGoney was gDood
The Donly things that changed were the seasons and the shAapes of the hoods
'Til the gDovernment came on the radio in lGate 'D55
Said the sDtate's gonna build a new hF#mighway
One that's fGast, smooth and Dwide
[Chorus]
With that new hGighway, no one sBmtops here anyDmore
AnDd you can't make liGving without swDinging that dAoor
The sDign by the roadside still saGys "Come On IDn"
But the bF#mulbs are long since burnt out, not to lGight up aDgain
[Verse]
Now daDddy was as stubborn as a mGule in the sDnow
He said, "GDood folks return to the places that they kAnow"
But after the Dgravel arrived and those stGeamrollers whDined
All those gDood folks left me and F#mdaddy
And those tGwo lanes behDind
[Chorus]
With that new hGighway, no one sBmtops here anyDmore
AnDd you can't make liGving without swDinging that dAoor
The sDign by the roadside still saGys "Come On IDn"
But the bF#mulbs are long since burnt out, not to lGight up aDgain
[Instrumental]
D D F#m G G G A D
[Verse]
Now the cDalendar on the wall still reads 1G9 and D75
No one crDossed out the day that my daddy diAed
We laDid him in the ground 'neath that old syGcamore tDree
That shaDdes a boarded up gas sF#mtation...   out on RGoute D23
[Chorus]
With that new hGighway, no one sBmtops here anyDmore
AnDd you can't make liGving without swDinging that dAoor
The sDign by the roadside still saGys "Come On IDn"
But the bF#mulbs are long since burnt out, not to lGight up aDgain
Yeah, the bF#mulbs are long since burnt out, not to lGight up aDgain

All chords in this song (5)

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Route 23

by Chatham County Line

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

[Intro]

D F#m G A D

[Verse]

D G D

Well I spent my whole life since I was high as a knee

D A

By that two-lane blacktop they call Route 23

My daddy ran a service station

G D

And the pumps they did shine

D F#m G D

I'd watch him wash the windshields, keep the old look to that mind

[Verse]

D G D

Well the days they were long, but the money was good

D A

The only things that changed were the seasons and the shapes of the hoods

D G D

'Til the government came on the radio in late '55

D F#m

Said the state's gonna build a new highway

G D

One that's fast, smooth and wide

[Chorus]

G Bm D

With that new highway, no one stops here anymore

D G D A

And you can't make living without swinging that door

D G D

The sign by the roadside still says "Come On In"

F#m G D

But the bulbs are long since burnt out, not to light up again

[Verse]

D G D

Now daddy was as stubborn as a mule in the snow

D A

He said, "Good folks return to the places that they know"

D G D

But after the gravel arrived and those steamrollers whined

D F#m

All those good folks left me and daddy

G D

And those two lanes behind

[Chorus]

G Bm D

With that new highway, no one stops here anymore

D G D A

And you can't make living without swinging that door

D G D

The sign by the roadside still says "Come On In"

F#m G D

But the bulbs are long since burnt out, not to light up again

[Instrumental]

D D F#m G G G A D

[Verse]

D G D

Now the calendar on the wall still reads 19 and 75

D A

No one crossed out the day that my daddy died

D G D

We laid him in the ground 'neath that old sycamore tree

D F#m G D

That shades a boarded up gas station... out on Route 23

[Chorus]

G Bm D

With that new highway, no one stops here anymore

D G D A

And you can't make living without swinging that door

D G D

The sign by the roadside still says "Come On In"

F#m G D

But the bulbs are long since burnt out, not to light up again

F#m G D

Yeah, the bulbs are long since burnt out, not to light up again

About Route 23 Chords by Chatham County Line

Learn how to play Route 23 by Chatham County Line with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Route 23 chords”, “Route 23 guitar chords”, or “Chatham County Line Route 23 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 Route 23 chords and for experienced players who want accurate Route 23 lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, F#m, G, A, Bm.

FAQ — Route 23 by Chatham County Line

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Yes. Tap any chord in "Route 23" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Route 23" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Route 23" in?

The chords for "Route 23" show the original chord names (including D, F#m, G, A, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.