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Last Great American Whale

Chords

4.919 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Riff repeats all the way through.
[Verse 1]
DTheDy say Ahe AsusdidnA't have an GenemyG  A  
DHis Dwas a gAreAsusatnesAs to behoGld
DHe Dwas thAe Asuslast Asurviving GprogenGyA  
DThe Dlast onAe Asuson thAis side oGf the world
DHe DmeasurAed Asusa haAlf mile frGom tip Gto tAail
DSilDver and AblAsusack wAith powerGful fins
DTheDy say Ahe AsuscoulAd split a GmountaGin in Atwo
DThaDt's how Awe Asusgot Athe Grand GCanyon
[Chorus]
DLasDt greaAt AsusAmeriAcan whaleG  G  A  
DLasDt great AAmAsusericaAn whaleG  
DLasDt greaAt AsusAmeriAcan whaleG  G  A  
DLasDt great AAmAsusericaAn whaleG  
[Verse 2]
DSomDe say AthAsusey saAw him at tGhe GreGat LaAkes
DSomDe say thAey Asussaw Ahim off oGf Florida
DMy Dmother AsAsusaid sAhe saw him Gin ChGinatoAwn
DBut Dyou canA't AsusalwaAys trust Gyour mother
DOff Dthe CAarAsusolinaAs the sun Gshines GbrigAhtly in the day
DThe DlighthoAusAsuse gloAws ghostlGy there at night
DThe Dchief AoAsusf a lAocal tribe Ghad kGilled Aa racist mayor's son
DAnd Dhe'd beAen Asuson dAeath row Gsince 1958
[Verse 3]
DThe DmayorA's Asuskid Awas a rowdGy pigG  A  
DSpiDt on IndAiaAsusns anAd lots woGrse
DThe Dold cAhiAsusef buAried a hatGchet iGn his Ahead
DLifDe comparAed Asusto dAeath for Ghim seemed worse
DThe DtribaAl AsusbrothAers gatherGed in Gthe lAighthouse to sing
DAnd Dtried tAo AsusconjuAre up a sGtorm or rain
DThe DharboAr AsusparteAd, the greGat whaGle spArang full up
DAnd Dcaused Aa Asushuge Atidal wavGe
[Verse 4]
DThe Dwave AcrAsusushed Athe jail Gand frGeed tAhe chief
DThe Dtribe lAet Asusout Aa roarG  
DThe DwhiteAs Asuswere Adrowned, tGhe broGwns aAnd reds set free
DBut Dsadly oAne AsusthinAg moreG  
DSomDe locaAl Asusyokel Amember of Gthe NGRAA  
DKepDt a bazoAokAsusa in Ahis livinGg room
DAnd DthinkAinAsusg he Ahad the chGief in Ghis Asights
DBleDw the whAalAsuse's bArains out Gwith a lead harpoon
[Chorus]
DLasDt greaAt AsusAmeriAcan whaleG  G  A  
DLasDt great AAmAsusericaAn whaleG  
DLasDt greaAt AsusAmeriAcan whaleG  G  A  
DLasDt great AAmAsusericaAn whaleG  
[Verse 5]
DWelDl AmerAicAsusans dAon't care Gfor muGch of Aanything
DLanDd and waAteAsusr the AleastG  
DAnd DanimaAl Asuslife Ais low on Gthe toGtem pAole
DWitDh human AliAsusfe noAt worth mGore than infected yeast
DAmeDricans AdAsuson't Acare too mGuch foGr beaAuty
DTheDy'll shiAt Asusin a Ariver, duGmp battery acid in a stream
DTheDy'll wAatAsusch deAad rats waGsh up Gon thAe beach
DAnd DcomplaiAn Asusif thAey can't Gswim
DTheDy say AthAsusings Aare done fGor the GmajoArity
DDonD't belieAve Asushalf Aof what Gyou see and none of what you hear
DIt'Ds like AwAsushat mAy painter Gfriend GDonaAld said to me
D"StDick a foArk Asusin tAheir ass Gand turn them over, they're done"

All chords in this song (4)

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Last Great American Whale

by Lou Reed

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Asus

Riff repeats all the way through.

[Verse 1]

D D A Asus A G G A

They say he didn't have an enemy

D D A Asus A G

His was a greatness to behold

D D A Asus A G G A

He was the last surviving progeny

D D A Asus A G

The last one on this side of the world

D D A Asus A G G A

He measured a half mile from tip to tail

D D A Asus A G

Silver and black with powerful fins

D D A Asus A G G A

They say he could split a mountain in two

D D A Asus A G

That's how we got the Grand Canyon

[Chorus]

D D A Asus A G G A

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G G A

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G

Last great American whale

[Verse 2]

D D A Asus A G G A

Some say they saw him at the Great Lakes

D D A Asus A G

Some say they saw him off of Florida

D D A Asus A G G A

My mother said she saw him in Chinatown

D D A Asus A G

But you can't always trust your mother

D D A Asus A G G A

Off the Carolinas the sun shines brightly in the day

D D A Asus A G

The lighthouse glows ghostly there at night

D D A Asus A G G A

The chief of a local tribe had killed a racist mayor's son

D D A Asus A G

And he'd been on death row since 1958

[Verse 3]

D D A Asus A G G A

The mayor's kid was a rowdy pig

D D A Asus A G

Spit on Indians and lots worse

D D A Asus A G G A

The old chief buried a hatchet in his head

D D A Asus A G

Life compared to death for him seemed worse

D D A Asus A G G A

The tribal brothers gathered in the lighthouse to sing

D D A Asus A G

And tried to conjure up a storm or rain

D D A Asus A G G A

The harbor parted, the great whale sprang full up

D D A Asus A G

And caused a huge tidal wave

[Verse 4]

D D A Asus A G G A

The wave crushed the jail and freed the chief

D D A Asus A G

The tribe let out a roar

D D A Asus A G G A

The whites were drowned, the browns and reds set free

D D A Asus A G

But sadly one thing more

D D A Asus A G G A

Some local yokel member of the NRA

D D A Asus A G

Kept a bazooka in his living room

D D A Asus A G G A

And thinking he had the chief in his sights

D D A Asus A G

Blew the whale's brains out with a lead harpoon

[Chorus]

D D A Asus A G G A

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G G A

Last great American whale

D D A Asus A G

Last great American whale

[Verse 5]

D D A Asus A G G A

Well Americans don't care for much of anything

D D A Asus A G

Land and water the least

D D A Asus A G G A

And animal life is low on the totem pole

D D A Asus A G

With human life not worth more than infected yeast

D D A Asus A G G A

Americans don't care too much for beauty

D D A Asus A G

They'll shit in a river, dump battery acid in a stream

D D A Asus A G G A

They'll watch dead rats wash up on the beach

D D A Asus A G

And complain if they can't swim

D D A Asus A G G A

They say things are done for the majority

D D A Asus A G

Don't believe half of what you see and none of what you hear

D D A Asus A G G A

It's like what my painter friend Donald said to me

D D A Asus A G

"Stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, they're done"

About Last Great American Whale Chords by Lou Reed

Learn how to play Last Great American Whale by Lou Reed with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Last Great American Whale chords”, “Last Great American Whale guitar chords”, or “Lou Reed Last Great American Whale 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 Last Great American Whale chords and for experienced players who want accurate Last Great American Whale lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, Asus, G.

FAQ — Last Great American Whale by Lou Reed

How do I play "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed 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 "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed free?

Yes. The chords for "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Last Great American Whale" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Last Great American Whale"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Last Great American Whale" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Last Great American Whale" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Lou Reed below.

What key is "Last Great American Whale" in?

The chords for "Last Great American Whale" show the original chord names (including D, A, Asus, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.