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Ellis Island

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
Am G F C Am G F C
AmI was Gdriving down FNinth AvenCue
AmAs the Gsky was Fgetting Cdark
AmDidn't Ghave nothin' Felse to Cdo
AmSo I kept on Griding to FBattery CPark
AmI stepped out Gin the damp and Fmisty Cnight
AmAs the Gfog was Frollin' Cin
AmMan said, "GLast boat Fleaving tonCight
AmIs the boat for GEllis FIslanCd
[Instrumental]
Am G F C Am G F C
AmAs my Gfeet touched Fsolid Cground,
AmI felt a Gchill run Fdown my Cspine
AmI could Galmost Fhear the Csound
AmOf thousands Gpushing Fthrough the Clines
AmMothers Gand bewilFdered Cwives
AmThat sailed Gacross the Fraging Csea
AmOthers Grunnin' Ffor their Clives
AmTo the land Gof FopportuCnity
AmOh down on GEllis FIslanCd
BbWhat is this strange Fparadise
AmThey must've wondered through the Fcries and moans
BbAfter all they Fsacrificed,
Their Gmfaith, their families, Bbfriends and AmhomesF  C  
AmThen on the GseparatiFon Cstairs
AmThey were Gcounted out, or Fcounted Cin
AmFrozen Gwhile the Finspector Cstared
AmDown on GEllis FIslaCnd
AmOh down on GEllis FIslaCnd
BbWho-o-oFh     Amyea-a-aFh
Bb      F      Am F C
AmNow me I Gonly Fstumbled Cin
AmJust to Gwander around that Fempty Chall
AmWhere someone eGlse's Ffate had Cbeen
AmDecided Gin no tFime at aCll
AmCases Gfilled with Fhats and Cclothes
AmAnd the Gbelongings of those who Fjourneyed Cfar
AmThey're strange Greminders FI suppoCse
AmOf where we're Gfrom and Fwho we Care
AmBut as the Gboat pulled Foff the Cshore
AmI could Gsee the fog was FliftCing
AmAnd lights GI'd never Fseen Cbefore
AmWere shining down on GEllis FIslanCd
AmShining down on GEllis FIslanCd
[Outro]
Am G F C Am G F C

All chords in this song (6)

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Ellis Island

by Marc Cohn

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

Am G F C Am G F C

Am G F C

I was driving down Ninth Avenue

Am G F C

As the sky was getting dark

Am G F C

Didn't have nothin' else to do

Am G F C

So I kept on riding to Battery Park

Am G F C

I stepped out in the damp and misty night

Am G F C

As the fog was rollin' in

Am G F C

Man said, "Last boat leaving tonight

Am G F C

Is the boat for Ellis Island

[Instrumental]

Am G F C Am G F C

Am G F C

As my feet touched solid ground,

Am G F C

I felt a chill run down my spine

Am G F C

I could almost hear the sound

Am G F C

Of thousands pushing through the lines

Am G F C

Mothers and bewildered wives

Am G F C

That sailed across the raging sea

Am G F C

Others runnin' for their lives

Am G F C

To the land of opportunity

Am G F C

Oh down on Ellis Island

Bb F

What is this strange paradise

Am F

They must've wondered through the cries and moans

Bb F

After all they sacrificed,

Gm Bb Am F C

Their faith, their families, friends and homes

Am G F C

Then on the separation stairs

Am G F C

They were counted out, or counted in

Am G F C

Frozen while the inspector stared

Am G F C

Down on Ellis Island

Am G F C

Oh down on Ellis Island

Bb F Am F

Who-o-oh yea-a-ah

Bb F Am F C

Am G F C

Now me I only stumbled in

Am G F C

Just to wander around that empty hall

Am G F C

Where someone else's fate had been

Am G F C

Decided in no time at all

Am G F C

Cases filled with hats and clothes

Am G F C

And the belongings of those who journeyed far

Am G F C

They're strange reminders I suppose

Am G F C

Of where we're from and who we are

Am G F C

But as the boat pulled off the shore

Am G F C

I could see the fog was lifting

Am G F C

And lights I'd never seen before

Am G F C

Were shining down on Ellis Island

Am G F C

Shining down on Ellis Island

[Outro]

Am G F C Am G F C

About Ellis Island Chords by Marc Cohn

Learn how to play Ellis Island by Marc Cohn with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ellis Island chords”, “Ellis Island guitar chords”, or “Marc Cohn Ellis Island 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 Ellis Island chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ellis Island lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, G, F, C, Bb, Gm.

FAQ — Ellis Island by Marc Cohn

How do I play "Ellis Island" by Marc Cohn on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Ellis Island" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ellis Island"?

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

Is "Ellis Island" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Ellis Island" in?

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