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Desperado

Chords

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[Intro]
A  A7  D  Dm  A  F#m  B7  E7
[Verse 1]
DespAerado, A7why don't you cDome to your seDmnses
You been oAut riding feF#mnces for B7so long E7now
Oh, you're a hAard oneA7  
But I know that yoDu've got your Dmreasons
These tAhings that are F#mpleasing you
Can B7hurt you sE7omeAhowE  
[Chorus 1]
Don't you F#mdraw the queen of dC#miamonds, boy
She'll bDeat you if she's aAble
You know the F#mqueen of hearts is alDways your best bAetE  
Now it F#mseems to me, some C#mfine things
Have been lDaid upon your tAable
But you F#monly want the thB7ings that you can't BmgetE  
[Verse 2]
DesperAado, A7oh, you ain't Dgetting no Dmyounger
Your pAain and your F#mhunger, they're B7driving you hE7ome
And Afreedom, oh A7freedom
Well, that's just Dsome people Dmtalking
Your Aprison is F#mwalking
Through this wB7orld E7all alAoneE  
[Chorus 2]
And don't your F#mfeet get cold in the wC#minter time
The Dsky won't snow, the sAun won't shine
It's hF#mard to tell the nDight time from the dAayE  
You're lF#mosing all your hC#mighs and lows
Ain't it fDunny how the Afeeling goes aBmwayE  E7  
[Verse 3]
DespeArado, why don't you cDome to your seDmnses
Come dAown from your fF#mences, and oB7pen the gE7ate
It may be raAining, A7but there's a rDainbow aDmbove you
You better lAet somebody lF#move you
You better lDet somebody lBmove you
You better lAet somebC#7ody lF#move you
BeBmfore it's tE7oo lAate

All chords in this song (11)

The story behind the song

This song, appearing on the album American IV: The Man Comes Around, is performed by Johnny Cash, an artist known for exploring themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption throughout his career. His deep, calm, bass-baritone voice often conveyed a sense of rebelliousness alongside a somber and humble demeanor. Playing this song, you can channel the gravitas and introspection that defined much of his later work.

AI-written from these sources:Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Desperado

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

C#m

C#7

[Intro]

A A7 D Dm A F#m B7 E7

[Verse 1]

A A7 D Dm

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses

A F#m B7 E7

You been out riding fences for so long now

A A7

Oh, you're a hard one

D Dm

But I know that you've got your reasons

A F#m

These things that are pleasing you

B7 E7 A E

Can hurt you somehow

[Chorus 1]

F#m C#m

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy

D A

She'll beat you if she's able

F#m D A E

You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

F#m C#m

Now it seems to me, some fine things

D A

Have been laid upon your table

F#m B7 Bm E

But you only want the things that you can't get

[Verse 2]

A A7 D Dm

Desperado, oh, you ain't getting no younger

A F#m B7 E7

Your pain and your hunger, they're driving you home

A A7

And freedom, oh freedom

D Dm

Well, that's just some people talking

A F#m

Your prison is walking

B7 E7 A E

Through this world all alone

[Chorus 2]

F#m C#m

And don't your feet get cold in the winter time

D A

The sky won't snow, the sun won't shine

F#m D A E

It's hard to tell the night time from the day

F#m C#m

You're losing all your highs and lows

D A Bm E E7

Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away

[Verse 3]

A D Dm

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses

A F#m B7 E7

Come down from your fences, and open the gate

A A7 D Dm

It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you

A F#m

You better let somebody love you

D Bm

You better let somebody love you

A C#7 F#m

You better let somebody love you

Bm E7 A

Before it's too late

About Desperado Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Desperado by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Desperado chords”, “Desperado guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Desperado 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 Desperado chords and for experienced players who want accurate Desperado lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, A7, D, Dm, F#m, B7.

FAQ — Desperado by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Desperado" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Desperado" by Johnny Cash 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 "Desperado" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Desperado" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Desperado" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Desperado"?

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

Is "Desperado" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Desperado" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Desperado" in?

The chords for "Desperado" show the original chord names (including A, A7, D, Dm, F#m, B7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.