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Life Is Just A Tire Swing

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Life Is Just A Tire Swing
Words and Music by Jimmy Buffett 1974
[Intro]
    Bm      Bm      Bm       Bmx2
[Verse 1]
  GI remember the Asmell   Dof the creosote plant,
when E7we'd have to eat on Easter with my Acrazy old uncle and aunt.
 GThey lived in a big house, DAntebellum style, (Antebellum)
and the Gwind would Dblow across the Gold bayDou,
when I Awas a tranquil little child.D  
[Chorus 1]
 Life is just a Bmtire swing.  'Jambalaya' was
 Gthe only song I Dcould sing.
GBlack-berry pickin', Deatin' fried chicken,
and I Gnever knew a D/F#thing about Apain.
 ALife was just a Bmtire swing.Bm  Bm  Bm  
[Verse 2]
  GIn a few Asummers my folks Dpacked me off to camp;
yeah, E7me and my cousin' Baxter in our Apup tent with a lamp.
And Gin a few days BDaxter went home, and he Gleft me D/F#by myAself.
But I Gknew that I'd Dstay, it was Gbetter that Dway,
and I could Aget along without any help.D  
[Chorus 2]
 Life is just a Bmtire swing.  'Jambalaya' was
 Gthe only song I Dcould sing.
GChasin' after sparrows with Drubber-tipped arrows,
Gknowin' I could D/F#never hurt a Athing,
 Alife was just a tire Bmswing.  Bm(Tire swing)Bm  Bm  
[Bridge]
And I've Gnever been west of DNew Orleans nor Emeast of PensacDola.
My Gonly contact with the Doutside world was an E7R.C.A. VictArola.
And BmElvis would sing and then I'd dream aAbout expensive cars,
and E7who would've figured that twenty years later
I'd be Arubbin' shoulders with the stars.
 ALife was just a Bmtire swing.Bm  Bm  Bm  
[Verse 3]
  GThen the other Amorning on some DIllinois road
I fell aE7sleep at the wheel, But was quickly wakened up by
a A'Ma Bell' telephone pole,
and a Gbunch of Grant Wood Dfaces screaming G'Is he D/F#still aAlive?',
But through the Gwindow I could Dsee it Ghangin' from a Dtree,
and I Aknew that I had survived.D  
[Chorus 3]
 Life is still a Bmtire swing.  'Jambalaya's is
 Gthe best song I Dcan sing.
GBlack-berry pickin', Deatin' fried chicken,
But I Gfinally learned a D/F#lot about Apain,
 ALife is just a Bmtire swing.  Bm(Tire swing)Bm  
 BmLife was just a Bmtire swing. Bm(Tire swing)Bm  

All chords in this song (7)

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Life Is Just A Tire Swing

by Jimmy Buffett

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D/F#

Life Is Just A Tire Swing

Words and Music by Jimmy Buffett 1974

[Intro]

Bm Bm Bm Bm

[Verse 1]

G A D

I remember the smell of the creosote plant,

E7 A

when we'd have to eat on Easter with my crazy old uncle and aunt.

G D

They lived in a big house, Antebellum style, (Antebellum)

G D G D

and the wind would blow across the old bayou,

A D

when I was a tranquil little child.

[Chorus 1]

Life is just a tire swing. 'Jambalaya' was

G D

the only song I could sing.

G D

Black-berry pickin', eatin' fried chicken,

G D/F# A

and I never knew a thing about pain.

A Bm Bm Bm Bm

Life was just a tire swing.

[Verse 2]

G A D

In a few summers my folks packed me off to camp;

E7 A

yeah, me and my cousin' Baxter in our pup tent with a lamp.

G D G D/F# A

And in a few days Baxter went home, and he left me by myself.

G D G D

But I knew that I'd stay, it was better that way,

A D

and I could get along without any help.

[Chorus 2]

Life is just a tire swing. 'Jambalaya' was

G D

the only song I could sing.

G D

Chasin' after sparrows with rubber-tipped arrows,

G D/F# A

knowin' I could never hurt a thing,

A Bm Bm Bm Bm

life was just a tire swing. (Tire swing)

[Bridge]

G D Em D

And I've never been west of New Orleans nor east of Pensacola.

G D E7 A

My only contact with the outside world was an R.C.A. Victrola.

Bm A

And Elvis would sing and then I'd dream about expensive cars,

and who would've figured that twenty years later

I'd be rubbin' shoulders with the stars.

A Bm Bm Bm Bm

Life was just a tire swing.

[Verse 3]

G A D

Then the other morning on some Illinois road

I fell asleep at the wheel, But was quickly wakened up by

a 'Ma Bell' telephone pole,

G D G D/F# A

and a bunch of Grant Wood faces screaming 'Is he still alive?',

G D G D

But through the window I could see it hangin' from a tree,

A D

and I knew that I had survived.

[Chorus 3]

Life is still a tire swing. 'Jambalaya's is

G D

the best song I can sing.

G D

Black-berry pickin', eatin' fried chicken,

G D/F# A

But I finally learned a lot about pain,

A Bm Bm Bm

Life is just a tire swing. (Tire swing)

Bm Bm Bm Bm

Life was just a tire swing. (Tire swing)

About Life Is Just A Tire Swing Chords by Jimmy Buffett

Learn how to play Life Is Just A Tire Swing by Jimmy Buffett with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Life Is Just A Tire Swing chords”, “Life Is Just A Tire Swing guitar chords”, or “Jimmy Buffett Life Is Just A Tire Swing 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 Life Is Just A Tire Swing chords and for experienced players who want accurate Life Is Just A Tire Swing lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Bm, G, D, E7, D/F#.

FAQ — Life Is Just A Tire Swing by Jimmy Buffett

How do I play "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" by Jimmy Buffett on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" by Jimmy Buffett 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 "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" by Jimmy Buffett free?

Yes. The chords for "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" by Jimmy Buffett are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Life Is Just A Tire Swing"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" by Jimmy Buffett with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Jimmy Buffett below.

What key is "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" in?

The chords for "Life Is Just A Tire Swing" show the original chord names (including A, Bm, G, D, E7, D/F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.