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Presidential Rag

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Notes:
On Am and Dm chords add and take away a G note (I like to use the open 3rd string) for the riff in the song.
The Am7 or Dm add G are on the & beats after 2 and 3.
Durign the main body, stay on Am one measure at the end of every stanza, and one at the beginnign of a new
one (2 consecutively) if in the middle of a block of text, play 3 consecutive measures if there's a one
line space.
Presidential Rag
Spoken:
You know, took me a long time to get around to writin' a Watergate song. I think because...mainly because
in the beginning of Watergate it was pretty funny, you know? So I said "oh! I'm gonna write one of them
funny Watergate..." you know:
CWateF#dimrgate, FWatergate but
it sorta got past the point of bein' funny, you know, and went on to new bigger and better things.
And then I though "oh, I better write one of those satyrical ballads." You know, like:
E(PlE7ayed satyrically, like a ballad)
but got past that point. So I never wrote a Watergate song. Until one day, a little while ago,
I was sitting around and I forgot all about Watergate. And I was sittin' around playin' the piano and
all of a sudden this song jumped out and wrote itself down. The next day Spiro resigned.
So I been writing a lot since!
[Intro]
Am
AmYou said you Cdidn't know
That the Dmcats with the bugs were there
FAnd you'd never Ggo along with that E7kind of stuff nowAmhere
AmBut that just isn't the Cpoint, man
That's the Dmwrong wrong way to go
If Fyou didn't know about Gthat one, well then E7what else don't you kAmnow?
AmYou said that you were Clied to
Well Dmthat ain't hard too see
FBut you must have been Gfooled again by your E7friends across the seAma
AmAnd maybe you were Cfooled again by your Dmpeople here at home
'Cause Fnobody could Gtalk like you
And E7know what's going oAmn
NoAmbody elected your Cfamily
And we Dmdidn't elect your friends
No one Fvoted for your adGvisors
And noE7body wants amAmends
AmYou're the one we Cvoted for, so Dmyou must take the blame
For Fhanding out auGthority to E7men who are insAmane
AmYou say it's all fixed Cup now; you've got Dmnew guys on the line
FBut you had better reGmember this while E7you still got the tAmime
AmMothers still are Cweeping for their Dmboys that went to war
and Ffathers are still Gasking what the E7whole damn thing was fAmor
And Ampeople still are Chungry, and Dmpeople still are poor
And an Fhonest week of Gwork these days don't E7feed the kids no mAmore
AmSchools are still like Cprisons
Cuz we Dmdon't learn how to live
And Feverybody Gwants to take, noE7body wants to giAmve
AmYes you'll be reCmembered, be reDmmembered very well
FAnd if I live a Glong life, oh, the E7stories I could tAmell!
AmOf men and wars and Cpoverty. Of Dmsickness and of greed
Hell Fyes
You'll be reGmembered, be remE7embered very weAmll
AmYou said you Cdidn't know
That the Dmcats with the bugs were there
FAnd you'd never Ggo along with that E7kind of stuff noAmwhere
AmBut that just isn't the Cpoint man
That's the Dmwrong, wrong way to go
If Fyou didn't know about Gthat one
Well then E7what else don't you Amknow?

All chords in this song (8)

Open

XO221O

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

A minor

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Presidential Rag

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Presidential Rag

by Arlo Guthrie

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#dim

Notes:

On Am and Dm chords add and take away a G note (I like to use the open 3rd string) for the riff in the song.

The Am7 or Dm add G are on the & beats after 2 and 3.

Durign the main body, stay on Am one measure at the end of every stanza, and one at the beginnign of a new

one (2 consecutively) if in the middle of a block of text, play 3 consecutive measures if there's a one

line space.

Presidential Rag

Spoken:

You know, took me a long time to get around to writin' a Watergate song. I think because...mainly because

in the beginning of Watergate it was pretty funny, you know? So I said "oh! I'm gonna write one of them

funny Watergate..." you know:

C F#dim F

Watergate, Watergate but

it sorta got past the point of bein' funny, you know, and went on to new bigger and better things.

And then I though "oh, I better write one of those satyrical ballads." You know, like:

E E7

(Played satyrically, like a ballad)

but got past that point. So I never wrote a Watergate song. Until one day, a little while ago,

I was sitting around and I forgot all about Watergate. And I was sittin' around playin' the piano and

all of a sudden this song jumped out and wrote itself down. The next day Spiro resigned.

So I been writing a lot since!

[Intro]

Am C

You said you didn't know

That the cats with the bugs were there

F G E7 Am

And you'd never go along with that kind of stuff nowhere

Am C

But that just isn't the point, man

That's the wrong wrong way to go

F G E7 Am

If you didn't know about that one, well then what else don't you know?

Am C

You said that you were lied to

Well that ain't hard too see

F G E7 Am

But you must have been fooled again by your friends across the sea

Am C Dm

And maybe you were fooled again by your people here at home

F G

'Cause nobody could talk like you

E7 Am

And know what's going on

Am C

Nobody elected your family

And we didn't elect your friends

F G

No one voted for your advisors

E7 Am

And nobody wants amends

Am C Dm

You're the one we voted for, so you must take the blame

F G E7 Am

For handing out authority to men who are insane

Am C Dm

You say it's all fixed up now; you've got new guys on the line

F G E7 Am

But you had better remember this while you still got the time

Am C Dm

Mothers still are weeping for their boys that went to war

F G E7 Am

and fathers are still asking what the whole damn thing was for

Am C Dm

And people still are hungry, and people still are poor

F G E7 Am

And an honest week of work these days don't feed the kids no more

Am C

Schools are still like prisons

Cuz we don't learn how to live

F G E7 Am

And everybody wants to take, nobody wants to give

Am C Dm

Yes you'll be remembered, be remembered very well

F G E7 Am

And if I live a long life, oh, the stories I could tell!

Am C Dm

Of men and wars and poverty. Of sickness and of greed

Hell yes

G E7 Am

You'll be remembered, be remembered very well

Am C

You said you didn't know

That the cats with the bugs were there

F G E7 Am

And you'd never go along with that kind of stuff nowhere

Am C

But that just isn't the point man

That's the wrong, wrong way to go

F G

If you didn't know about that one

E7 Am

Well then what else don't you know?

About Presidential Rag Chords by Arlo Guthrie

Learn how to play Presidential Rag by Arlo Guthrie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Presidential Rag chords”, “Presidential Rag guitar chords”, or “Arlo Guthrie Presidential Rag 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 Presidential Rag chords and for experienced players who want accurate Presidential Rag lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, Dm, G, C, F#dim, F.

FAQ — Presidential Rag by Arlo Guthrie

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What key is "Presidential Rag" in?

The chords for "Presidential Rag" show the original chord names (including Am, Dm, G, C, F#dim, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.