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Scarlet Begonias

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[Verse 1]
CAs I was walkin' down FGrosvenor GSquare,
Not a Cchill to the winter but a Fnip to the Gair,
FFrom the other diCrecGtion Fshe was calling my Ceye,
FCould be an ilClusGion Fbut I might as well Ctry, might as well Gtry.
[Verse 2]
CShe had rings on her fingers and Fbells on her Gshoes,
CAnd I knew without askin' she was Finto the Gblues.
FShe wore scarlet CbegGonias Ftucked into her Ccurls,
FI knew right aCway Gshe wFas not like other Cgirls, other Ggirls.
[Verse 3]
CIn the heat of the evening when the Fdealin' got Grough,
CShe was too pat to open and Ftoo cool to Gbluff.
FAs I picked up my CmatGches Fand was closin' the Cdoor,
FI had one of those CflasGhes, FI'd been there befCore, been there beGfore.
[Bridge]
Well I Dain't often right but I've never been wrong,
GSeldom turns out the way it Fdoes in the Csong.
DOnce in a while you get shown the light
In the Gstrangest of places if you Flook at it Cright.
D.     F.     G
[Verse 4]
CWell there ain't nothin' wrong with the Fway she Gmoves,
CAll scarlet begonias or a Ftouch of the Gblues.
FAnd there's nothing CwroGng with the Flook that's in her Ceyes
FI had to learn the Chard Gway to Flet her pass Cby, let her pass Gby.
[Verse 5]
CThe wind in the willow's playing "FTea for GTwo,"
CThe sky was yellow and the Fsun was Gblue,
FStrangers stopping CstranGgers Fjust to shake their Chand,
FEverybody's CplayiGng Fin the heart of gold Cband, heart of gold Gband.

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

"Scarlet Begonias" paints a vivid scene, beginning in London's Grosvenor Square and weaving in a reference to "Tea for Two." The lyrics, written by Robert Hunter with music by Jerry Garcia, delve into themes of chance and low-stakes gambling, a common thread in many Grateful Dead songs, symbolized by playing poker with matchsticks for fun. The song even inspired the name for a subsequent group, the Heart of Gold Band. First appearing on the 1974 album From the Mars Hotel, it often found itself paired with "Fire on the Mountain" in live performances. Playing this song feels like stepping into a whimsical narrative, full of playful risks and unexpected turns.

AI-written from these sources:Scarlet Begonias — Wikipedia ↗Grateful Dead — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Scarlet Begonias

by Grateful Dead

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

C F G

As I was walkin' down Grosvenor Square,

C F G

Not a chill to the winter but a nip to the air,

F C G F C

From the other direction she was calling my eye,

F C G F C G

Could be an illusion but I might as well try, might as well try.

[Verse 2]

C F G

She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes,

C F G

And I knew without askin' she was into the blues.

F C G F C

She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls,

F C G F C G

I knew right away she was not like other girls, other girls.

[Verse 3]

C F G

In the heat of the evening when the dealin' got rough,

C F G

She was too pat to open and too cool to bluff.

F C G F C

As I picked up my matches and was closin' the door,

F C G F C G

I had one of those flashes, I'd been there before, been there before.

[Bridge]

Well I ain't often right but I've never been wrong,

G F C

Seldom turns out the way it does in the song.

Once in a while you get shown the light

G F C

In the strangest of places if you look at it right.

D. F. G

[Verse 4]

C F G

Well there ain't nothin' wrong with the way she moves,

C F G

All scarlet begonias or a touch of the blues.

F C G F C

And there's nothing wrong with the look that's in her eyes

F C G F C G

I had to learn the hard way to let her pass by, let her pass by.

[Verse 5]

C F G

The wind in the willow's playing "Tea for Two,"

C F G

The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,

F C G F C

Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand,

F C G F C G

Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band.

About Scarlet Begonias Chords by Grateful Dead

Learn how to play Scarlet Begonias by Grateful Dead with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Scarlet Begonias chords”, “Scarlet Begonias guitar chords”, or “Grateful Dead Scarlet Begonias 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 Scarlet Begonias chords and for experienced players who want accurate Scarlet Begonias lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, D.

FAQ — Scarlet Begonias by Grateful Dead

How do I play "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead 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 "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead free?

Yes. The chords for "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Scarlet Begonias" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Scarlet Begonias"?

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

Is "Scarlet Begonias" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Grateful Dead below.

What key is "Scarlet Begonias" in?

The chords for "Scarlet Begonias" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.