Now playing

Copper

Chords

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
[D]   [G]   [D]   [G]
If you were  Dlooking for a way to  Gget me mad
It was a  Dsure fire way you  Gfound
 DActing like a  Ghalf-wit fool,  Alaying your money A7  
around
Well, I   Dcame back to  Gtell you Lou,
^?bout  Dwhat you almost  Gdid
Don^?t you  Aever put the cash on the  Ccounter, Lou,
 Fwhen I^?m  Cwith my  Gkid
Yeah, the  Dkid^?s 13, he^?s  Ggrowin^? Lou, two years
And  Dhe^?ll be bigger than  Gme
Still he  Dthink^?s I^?m strong as a  Gblacksmith and
 Astraighter than the tall oak  A7tree
I  Draised him alone ten  Gyears now,
since his  Dmomma ran  Gaway
Well, you  Aain^?t gonna blow his  Cimage of me
With a  Fstunt like you  Cpulled  Gtoday
chorus
 GThey took the copper right outta the penny, Lou
They got the  Dpig locked up in the pen
But you^?re  Ein big trouble with me, yes, you
If you  Aever do that  A7again
Ten  Dbucks a week  D7protection
don^?t Gmean I can^?t knock you  Edown
You got to  Dtreat me  D/c#like a  D/blivin^?  Dsaint, Lou
 GWhenever my G/f#son^?s  Daround
[D]   [G]   [D]   [G]
Yeah, the  Dkid wants to be a  Gpoliceman,  Djust like  Gme
You  Dknow he^?ll be a  Ggood one,
the  Away I started out to  A7be
And he  Djust might end up  Gpolice chief,
Now Dwouldn^?t that be something to  Gsee
^?Cause then the  Akid would kick right- Coff the force
All the  Ftwo-bit  Cgrifters like  Gme  (chorus)
I guess it  Dwas when my  Gold lady left me and
She  Dtook off with a saleman  Gguy
I  Dstarted to see things  Gdifferently,
cut your  Aown slice outta the  A7pie
Yeah, I  Dgrew up and it came  Gclear to me,
all the  Dsmart cops on the  Gmake
You get a  Asilver badge not an  Cold tin star
 Fwhen you^?re  Con the  Gtake
 GIt^?s pimps and whores, punk gang wars,
 DRobberies and homicides Bm  
When you  Ewalk the beat with the creeps on the street
Well, there  Aain^?t no where to  A7hide
I spent  Dhalf my life  D7without no wife
Ridin^?  Gheard on the scum of the  Eearth
I learned the  Dtricks of
the  D/c#trade from the  D/bgutter  Dparade
And then I  Gprayed for  G/f#all I^?m  Dworth
[D]   [G]   [D]   [G]
Don^?t you  Dknow I appreciate the  Gmoney Lou,
 DCause it all goes into the  Gbank
And when I  Dsend my kid to  Gcollege some day
He^?ll have  Aguys like you to  A7thank
Yeah,  Dten bucks a week on your  Ggrocery store
Means you  Ddon^?t have to worry ^?bout  Gcrime
But  Ahold your money when the  Ckids with me,
You can  Fpay me  Cdouble next  Gtime  (chorus)

All chords in this song (2)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

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

Copper

by Harry Chapin

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#

D G D G

[] [] [] []

D G

If you were looking for a way to get me mad

D G

It was a sure fire way you found

D G A A7

Acting like a half-wit fool, laying your money

around

D G

Well, I came back to tell you Lou,

D G

^?bout what you almost did

A C

Don^?t you ever put the cash on the counter, Lou,

F C G

when I^?m with my kid

D G

Yeah, the kid^?s 13, he^?s growin^? Lou, two years

D G

And he^?ll be bigger than me

D G

Still he think^?s I^?m strong as a blacksmith and

A A7

straighter than the tall oak tree

D G

I raised him alone ten years now,

D G

since his momma ran away

A C

Well, you ain^?t gonna blow his image of me

F C G

With a stunt like you pulled today

chorus

They took the copper right outta the penny, Lou

They got the pig locked up in the pen

But you^?re in big trouble with me, yes, you

A A7

If you ever do that again

D D7

Ten bucks a week protection

G E

don^?t mean I can^?t knock you down

D D/c# D/b D

You got to treat me like a livin^? saint, Lou

G G/f# D

Whenever my son^?s around

D G D G

[] [] [] []

D G D G

Yeah, the kid wants to be a policeman, just like me

D G

You know he^?ll be a good one,

A A7

the way I started out to be

D G

And he just might end up police chief,

D G

Now wouldn^?t that be something to see

A C

^?Cause then the kid would kick right- off the force

F C G

All the two-bit grifters like me (chorus)

D G

I guess it was when my old lady left me and

D G

She took off with a saleman guy

D G

I started to see things differently,

A A7

cut your own slice outta the pie

D G

Yeah, I grew up and it came clear to me,

D G

all the smart cops on the make

A C

You get a silver badge not an old tin star

F C G

when you^?re on the take

It^?s pimps and whores, punk gang wars,

D Bm

Robberies and homicides

When you walk the beat with the creeps on the street

A A7

Well, there ain^?t no where to hide

D D7

I spent half my life without no wife

G E

Ridin^? heard on the scum of the earth

I learned the tricks of

D/c# D/b D

the trade from the gutter parade

G G/f# D

And then I prayed for all I^?m worth

D G D G

[] [] [] []

D G

Don^?t you know I appreciate the money Lou,

D G

Cause it all goes into the bank

D G

And when I send my kid to college some day

A A7

He^?ll have guys like you to thank

D G

Yeah, ten bucks a week on your grocery store

D G

Means you don^?t have to worry ^?bout crime

A C

But hold your money when the kids with me,

F C G

You can pay me double next time (chorus)

About Copper Chords by Harry Chapin

Learn how to play Copper by Harry Chapin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Copper chords”, “Copper guitar chords”, or “Harry Chapin Copper 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 Copper chords and for experienced players who want accurate Copper lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, A, A7, C, F.

FAQ — Copper by Harry Chapin

How do I play "Copper" by Harry Chapin on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Copper" by Harry Chapin 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 "Copper" by Harry Chapin free?

Yes. The chords for "Copper" by Harry Chapin are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Copper" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Copper"?

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

Is "Copper" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Copper" in?

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