Is Free Chord Book really free?

Yes. Free Chord Book is 100% free with no sign-up required. Access 670,000+ guitar chords, tabs, and lyrics for every song you want to learn.

How do I transpose chords to a different key?

Open any song and use the transpose buttons to move every chord up or down by half-steps. Perfect for singers who need a different key or capo players.

Can I see chord diagrams while I play?

Yes. Tap any chord in a song to instantly see its interactive guitar chord diagram, including alternate fingerings and variations.

What's the difference between guitar chords and guitar tabs?

Chords show you which strings to strum together (great for rhythm playing and singing). Tabs (tablature) show you exact note-by-note fingerings, which is great for solos, riffs, and fingerpicking.

Does Free Chord Book work on mobile?

Yes. Free Chord Book is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. Use auto-scroll to play hands-free. There is also a free iPhone app (The Chord Book) and Android app (Free Chords).

Is there an iPhone or Android app?

Yes. Download The Chord Book on the Apple App Store and Free Chords on Google Play. Same 670,000+ songs, transpose, tuner, and auto-scroll — 100% free.

Can I print guitar chords?

Yes. Open any song and tap the Print button next to Save. You'll get a branded chord sheet with the Chord Book logo, ready for practice.

Is there a built-in guitar tuner?

Yes. Free Chord Book includes a free online guitar tuner that uses your microphone and YIN pitch detection for accurate tuning in standard and alternate tunings.

How many songs are available?

Over 670,000 songs with chords, tabs, and lyrics — covering every genre, from rock and pop to country, indie, folk, and Hebrew songs.

Is Free Chord Book a good alternative to Ultimate Guitar?

Yes. Free Chord Book is a fast, ad-free, 100% free alternative to Ultimate Guitar with interactive chord diagrams, instant transpose, auto-scroll, and a built-in tuner — no account required.

SavedFavorites

Homeless Brother

Chords

4.839 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
I was G7walking by the graveyard
Clate last Friday night
I Eheard somebody yelling
it Amsounded like a fight
It was Fjust a drunken Chobo dancing Amcircles in the Fnight
Pouring Cwhiskey on the Ghead stones
in the Fblue moon lighCt
So oFften have I wGondered where those hComeless Ebrothers gAmo
D7Down in some hidden valley where their Gsorrows cannot show
Where the Fpolice cannot Cfind them
where the Amwanted man caFn go
There's Cfreedom when you're Gwalking
even Fthough you are walking Cslow
[Chorus]
Smash your Fbottle on the Ggrave stone and Clive while you EcanAm  
That D7homeless G7brother is my fCriend
[Verse 2]
It's Ghard to be a pack rat
It's Chard to be a 'bo
But Eliving's so much harder where the Amheartless people go
SomeFwhere the dogs are Cbarking
and the cAmhildren seem to knFow
That CJesus on the Ghighway was a Flost hobCo
And they Fhear the holy Gsilence of the Ctemples in the EhillAm  
And they sD7ee the ragged tatters
as anGother kind of frill
And they Fenvy him the Csunshine and they Ampity him the Fchill
and they are sCad to do their Gliving
for some Fother kind of Cthrill
[Chorus]
Smash your Fbottle on the Ggrave stone and Clive while you EcanAm  
That D7homeless G7brother is my fCriend
[Verse 3]
SomeGwhere there was a woman
someCwhere there was a child
SomeEwhere there was a cottage
Where the Ammarigolds grew wild
But Fsomewhere's just like Cnowhere when you Amleave it for a whileF  
You'll Cfind the broken hGearted when you're Ftrav'ling jungle styleC  
Down the Fbowels of a Gbroken land where Cnumbers live like EmenAm  
Where D7those who keep their senses have them Gtaken back again
Where the Fnight stick cracks with Ccrazy rage where Ammadmen don't preFtend
Where Cwealth has no beGginning and Fpoverty no Cend
[Chorus]
Smash your Fbottle on the Ggrave stone and Clive while you EcanAm  
That D7homeless G7brother is my fCriend
[Verse 4]
The Gghosts of highway royalty have Cvanished in the night
The EWhitman wanderer walking t'ward a Amglowing inner light
The Fchildren have grown Colder and the Amcops have gripped us Ftight
There's Cno spot round the mGelting pot
for Ffree men in their fCight
And yFou who live on pGromises and prCosper as you EpleasAme
The D7victim of your riches often Gdies of your disease
He can't Fhear the fact'ry Cwhistle just the Amlonesome freight train's Fwheeze
He's lCiving on good fGortune
he ain't dFying on his Cknees
[Chorus]
Smash your Fbottle on the Ggrave stone and Clive while you EcanAm  
That D7homeless G7brother is my fCriend
That D7homeless G7brother is my Cfriend

All chords in this song (7)

🎸 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

Homeless Brother

by Don McLean

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

I was walking by the graveyard

late last Friday night

I heard somebody yelling

it sounded like a fight

F C Am F

It was just a drunken hobo dancing circles in the night

C G

Pouring whiskey on the head stones

F C

in the blue moon light

F G C E Am

So often have I wondered where those homeless brothers go

D7 G

Down in some hidden valley where their sorrows cannot show

F C

Where the police cannot find them

Am F

where the wanted man can go

C G

There's freedom when you're walking

F C

even though you are walking slow

[Chorus]

F G C E Am

Smash your bottle on the grave stone and live while you can

D7 G7 C

That homeless brother is my friend

[Verse 2]

It's hard to be a pack rat

It's hard to be a 'bo

E Am

But living's so much harder where the heartless people go

F C

Somewhere the dogs are barking

Am F

and the children seem to know

C G F C

That Jesus on the highway was a lost hobo

F G C E Am

And they hear the holy silence of the temples in the hill

And they see the ragged tatters

as another kind of frill

F C Am F

And they envy him the sunshine and they pity him the chill

C G

and they are sad to do their living

F C

for some other kind of thrill

[Chorus]

F G C E Am

Smash your bottle on the grave stone and live while you can

D7 G7 C

That homeless brother is my friend

[Verse 3]

Somewhere there was a woman

somewhere there was a child

Somewhere there was a cottage

Where the marigolds grew wild

F C Am F

But somewhere's just like nowhere when you leave it for a while

C G F C

You'll find the broken hearted when you're trav'ling jungle style

F G C E Am

Down the bowels of a broken land where numbers live like men

D7 G

Where those who keep their senses have them taken back again

F C Am F

Where the night stick cracks with crazy rage where madmen don't pretend

C G F C

Where wealth has no beginning and poverty no end

[Chorus]

F G C E Am

Smash your bottle on the grave stone and live while you can

D7 G7 C

That homeless brother is my friend

[Verse 4]

G C

The ghosts of highway royalty have vanished in the night

E Am

The Whitman wanderer walking t'ward a glowing inner light

F C Am F

The children have grown older and the cops have gripped us tight

C G

There's no spot round the melting pot

F C

for free men in their fight

F G C E Am

And you who live on promises and prosper as you please

D7 G

The victim of your riches often dies of your disease

F C Am F

He can't hear the fact'ry whistle just the lonesome freight train's wheeze

C G

He's living on good fortune

F C

he ain't dying on his knees

[Chorus]

F G C E Am

Smash your bottle on the grave stone and live while you can

D7 G7 C

That homeless brother is my friend

D7 G7 C

That homeless brother is my friend

About Homeless Brother Chords by Don McLean

Learn how to play Homeless Brother by Don McLean with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Homeless Brother chords”, “Homeless Brother guitar chords”, or “Don McLean Homeless Brother 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 Homeless Brother chords and for experienced players who want accurate Homeless Brother lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G7, C, E, Am, F, G.

FAQ — Homeless Brother by Don McLean

How do I play "Homeless Brother" by Don McLean on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Homeless Brother" by Don McLean 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 "Homeless Brother" by Don McLean free?

Yes. The chords for "Homeless Brother" by Don McLean are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Homeless Brother" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Homeless Brother"?

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

Is "Homeless Brother" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Homeless Brother" by Don McLean with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Don McLean below.

What key is "Homeless Brother" in?

The chords for "Homeless Brother" show the original chord names (including G7, C, E, Am, F, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.