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Daddy Frank

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Daddy Frank (The guitar man) - Merle Haggard
[Spoken]
Let me tell you about a song that I feel explains
itself.  It's called: "Daddy Frank, the Guitar Man".
[Intro]
| D       | A       | D (stop)    | N.C.     |
[Chorus]
      |               D|              |             |          
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,          
|                 |             |       A|          
Sister played the ringing tambourine.          
|             |               |          |          
Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,          
    |                 |                 |          D|          
She read our lips and helped the family sing.
That Dlittle band was all a part of living,
And our only means of living at the Atime;
And it wasn't like no normal family combo,
Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was Dblind.
[Verse]
|            Bm|               |          D|
Frank and mama counted on each other;
      |           Bm|                  |          D|
Their one and only weakness made them strong.
|           G|               |           D|
Mama did the driving for the family,
    |         E|             |           A|
And Frank made a living with a song.
|             Bm|              |           D|
Home was just a camp along the highway;
  |              Bm|               |       D|
A pick-up bed was where we bedded down.
      |          G|            |           D|
Don't ever once remember going hungry,
       |       D     G|       D       A|       D|        D(1 strum per letter)
But I remember mama cooking on the ground.
[Chorus]
      |               D|              |             |          
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,          
|                 |             |      A|          
Sister played the ringing tambourine.          
|             |               |         |          
Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,          
    |                 |                 |          D|          
She read our lips and helped the family sing.
That Dlittle band was all a part of living,
And our only means of living at the Atime;
And it wasn't like no normal family combo,
Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was Dblind.
[Verse]
GDon't remember how they got acDquainted;
I Gcan't recall just how it came to Bmbe.
There Ghad to be some special help from Dsomeone,
And Bmblessed be the one that let it Abe.
GFever caused my mama's loss of Dhearing.
GDaddy Frank was born without his Bmsight.
GAnd mama needed someone she could Dlean on,
    |   D          G|      D        A|        D|    Bb(change key)
And I believe the guitar man was right.
(Key change, half step up)
[Outro]
      |              Eb|              |             |          
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,          
|                 |             |     Bb|          
Sister played the ringing tambourine.          
|             |               |         |          
Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,          
    |                 |                 |          F|          
She read our lips and helped the family sing.
That Eblittle band was all a part of living,
And our only means of living at the Bbtime;
And it wasn't like no normal family combo,
Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was Ebblind.
(Fade out towards end of chorus)
Eb: 365343 or xx5343     
Bb: 113331 or xx3331 or 688766

All chords in this song (8)

The story behind the song

Merle Haggard was a country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist, known for his Bakersfield sound and songs that often explored themes of the working class. "Daddy Frank" embodies this spirit, telling a story that resonates with the struggles and realities of everyday life. The song paints a picture with characters and experiences that speak to the heart of country music storytelling, reflecting the kind of narratives that made Haggard a beloved figure. It plays like a heartfelt glimpse into a particular world, inviting you to step into its story.

AI-written from these sources:Merle Haggard — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Daddy Frank

by Merle Haggard

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Daddy Frank (The guitar man) - Merle Haggard

[Spoken]

Let me tell you about a song that I feel explains

itself. It's called: "Daddy Frank, the Guitar Man".

[Intro]

| D | A | D (stop) | N.C. |

[Chorus]

| | | |

Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,

| | | |

Sister played the ringing tambourine.

| | | |

Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,

| | | |

She read our lips and helped the family sing.

That little band was all a part of living,

And our only means of living at the time;

And it wasn't like no normal family combo,

Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind.

[Verse]

Bm D

| | | |

Frank and mama counted on each other;

Bm D

| | | |

Their one and only weakness made them strong.

G D

| | | |

Mama did the driving for the family,

E A

| | | |

And Frank made a living with a song.

Bm D

| | | |

Home was just a camp along the highway;

Bm D

| | | |

A pick-up bed was where we bedded down.

G D

| | | |

Don't ever once remember going hungry,

D G D A D D

| | | | (1 strum per letter)

But I remember mama cooking on the ground.

[Chorus]

| | | |

Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,

| | | |

Sister played the ringing tambourine.

| | | |

Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,

| | | |

She read our lips and helped the family sing.

That little band was all a part of living,

And our only means of living at the time;

And it wasn't like no normal family combo,

Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind.

[Verse]

G D

Don't remember how they got acquainted;

G Bm

I can't recall just how it came to be.

G D

There had to be some special help from someone,

Bm A

And blessed be the one that let it be.

G D

Fever caused my mama's loss of hearing.

G Bm

Daddy Frank was born without his sight.

G D

And mama needed someone she could lean on,

D G D A D Bb

| | | | (change key)

And I believe the guitar man was right.

(Key change, half step up)

[Outro]

| | | |

Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp,

| | | |

Sister played the ringing tambourine.

| | | |

Mama couldn't hear our pretty music,

| | | |

She read our lips and helped the family sing.

That little band was all a part of living,

And our only means of living at the time;

And it wasn't like no normal family combo,

Cause Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind.

(Fade out towards end of chorus)

Eb: 365343 or xx5343

Bb: 113331 or xx3331 or 688766

About Daddy Frank Chords by Merle Haggard

Learn how to play Daddy Frank by Merle Haggard with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Daddy Frank chords”, “Daddy Frank guitar chords”, or “Merle Haggard Daddy Frank 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 Daddy Frank chords and for experienced players who want accurate Daddy Frank lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, C, Bm, G, E.

FAQ — Daddy Frank by Merle Haggard

How do I play "Daddy Frank" by Merle Haggard on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Daddy Frank" by Merle Haggard 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 "Daddy Frank" by Merle Haggard free?

Yes. The chords for "Daddy Frank" by Merle Haggard are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Daddy Frank" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Daddy Frank"?

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

Is "Daddy Frank" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Daddy Frank" by Merle Haggard with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Merle Haggard below.

What key is "Daddy Frank" in?

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