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Johnny Come Lately

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Gmajor

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Johnny Come Lately
by Steve Earle
from the album Copperhead Road
[Intro]
G
[Verse 1]
GI'm an American, boys, I've come a long Cway
I was Gborn and bred in the USDA
So Emlisten up close, I got Csomething to saGy
GBoys, I'm buying this Dround
Well, it Gtook a little while, but we're in this Cfight
GAin't going home 'til we've done what's Dright
EmGonna drink Camden Town Cdry tonGight
If I Ghave to spend Dmy last Gpound
[Verse 2]
When I Gfirst got to London it was pourin' down Crain
GMet a little girl in the field canDteen
EmPainted her name on the Cnose of my Gplane
GSix more missions, I'm Dgone
Well, I Gasked if I could stay and she said that I Cmight
Then the Gwarden came around yelling "shut out the Dlights"
EmDeath rainin' out of the CLondon Gnight
GWe made Dlove 'til Gdawn
[Chorus]
But when CJohnny Come Lately comes Gmarching home
With a Gchest full of medals and a DG.I. loan
They'll be Emwaitin' at the station down in CSan AnGtone
When GJohnny comes Dmarching Ghome
[Instrumental]
G        C
G        D
Em    C  G
G  D  G
[Verse 3]
My GP-47 is a pretty good Cship
She Gtook a round comin' 'cross the channel last Dtrip
I was Emthinkin' 'bout my baby and Cletting her Grip
GAlways got me through so Dfar
Well, they can Gship me all over this great big Cworld
GNever find nothing like my North End Dgirl
I'm Emtaking her home with me Cone day, Gsir
GSoon as we Dwin this Gwar
[Chorus]
But when CJohnny Come Lately comes Gmarching home
With a Gchest full of medals and a DG.I. loan
They'll be Emwaitin' at the station down in CSan AnGtone
When GJohnny comes Dmarching Ghome
[Instrumental]
G        C
G        D
Em    C  G
G  D  G
G        C
G        D
Em    C  G
G  D  G
[Verse 4]
Now Gmy granddaddy sang me this Csong
GTold me about London when the blitz was Don
EmHow he married Grandma and Cbrought her back Ghome
A Ghero throughout this Dland
Now I'm Gstandin' on a runway in San DieCgo
A Gcouple purple hearts so I move a little Dslow
There's Emnobody here, maybe Cnobody knGows
About a Gplace called DVietGnam
[Chorus]
But when CJohnny Come Lately comes Gmarching home
With a Gchest full of medals and a DG.I. loan
They'll be Emwaitin' at the station down in CSan AnGtone
When GJohnny comes Dmarching Ghome
Now when CJohnny Come Lately comes Gmarching home
With a Gchest full of medals and a DG.I. loan
They'll be Emwaitin' at the station down in CSan AnGtone
When GJohnny comes Dmarching Ghome
[Outro]
G        C
G        D
Em    C  G
G  D  G
(Repeat 5 or 6 times and fade out)

All chords in this song (4)

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Johnny Come Lately

by Steve Earle

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Johnny Come Lately

by Steve Earle

from the album Copperhead Road

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

G C

I'm an American, boys, I've come a long way

G D

I was born and bred in the USA

Em C G

So listen up close, I got something to say

G D

Boys, I'm buying this round

G C

Well, it took a little while, but we're in this fight

G D

Ain't going home 'til we've done what's right

Em C G

Gonna drink Camden Town dry tonight

G D G

If I have to spend my last pound

[Verse 2]

G C

When I first got to London it was pourin' down rain

G D

Met a little girl in the field canteen

Em C G

Painted her name on the nose of my plane

G D

Six more missions, I'm gone

G C

Well, I asked if I could stay and she said that I might

G D

Then the warden came around yelling "shut out the lights"

Em C G

Death rainin' out of the London night

G D G

We made love 'til dawn

[Chorus]

C G

But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home

G D

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan

Em C G

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

G D G

When Johnny comes marching home

[Instrumental]

G C

G D

Em C G

G D G

[Verse 3]

G C

My P-47 is a pretty good ship

G D

She took a round comin' 'cross the channel last trip

Em C G

I was thinkin' 'bout my baby and letting her rip

G D

Always got me through so far

G C

Well, they can ship me all over this great big world

G D

Never find nothing like my North End girl

Em C G

I'm taking her home with me one day, sir

G D G

Soon as we win this war

[Chorus]

C G

But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home

G D

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan

Em C G

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

G D G

When Johnny comes marching home

[Instrumental]

G C

G D

Em C G

G D G

G C

G D

Em C G

G D G

[Verse 4]

G C

Now my granddaddy sang me this song

G D

Told me about London when the blitz was on

Em C G

How he married Grandma and brought her back home

G D

A hero throughout this land

G C

Now I'm standin' on a runway in San Diego

G D

A couple purple hearts so I move a little slow

Em C G

There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows

G D G

About a place called Vietnam

[Chorus]

C G

But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home

G D

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan

Em C G

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

G D G

When Johnny comes marching home

C G

Now when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home

G D

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan

Em C G

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

G D G

When Johnny comes marching home

[Outro]

G C

G D

Em C G

G D G

(Repeat 5 or 6 times and fade out)

About Johnny Come Lately Chords by Steve Earle

Learn how to play Johnny Come Lately by Steve Earle with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Johnny Come Lately chords”, “Johnny Come Lately guitar chords”, or “Steve Earle Johnny Come Lately 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 Johnny Come Lately chords and for experienced players who want accurate Johnny Come Lately lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D, Em, A.

FAQ — Johnny Come Lately by Steve Earle

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