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I Am A Lonesome Hobo

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

 G7= 320031
  G= 320033
[Intro]
G7  F  C  G
[Instrumental]
G  C  G  C  G  C  G  C
G  C  G  C  G  C  G
[Verse 1]
CI Gam a loneCsome Ghobo
WithCout Gfamily Cor GfriendsC  G  
CWhere aGnother man's Clife Gmight begin
CThat's exGactly where Cmine GendsC  G  
I Chave Gtried my hand Cat Gbribery
CBlackGmail and CdeGceitC  G  
CAnd GI've served Dtime for CeveryGthing
'Cept Cbeggin' Don the GstreetC  G  C  G  C  G  
[Verse 2]
CWell, Gonce I was raCther Gprosperous
There Cwas Gnothing I Cdid GlackC  G  
I Chad Gfourteen-karCat Ggold in my mouth
CAnd Gsilk upon Cmy GbackC  G  
But CI Gdid not trust Cmy Gbrother
CI Gcarried him Cto GblameC  G  
CWhich Gled me Dto my Cfatal Gdoom
To Cwander Doff in GshameC  G  
[Instrumental]
C  G  C  G  C  G
C  G  C  G  C  G  C  G
[Verse 3]
CKind Gladies and Ckind Ggentlemen
  C  GSoon I will Cbe GgoneC  G  
CBut Glet me Cjust Gwarn you all
CBeGfore I do Cpass Gon
CStay Gfree from petCty Gjealousies
  C  GLive by no Cman's GcodeC  G  
CAnd Ghold your Djudgment Cfor yourGself
Lest you Cwind up Don this GroadC  G  
[Outro]
C  G  C  G  C  G  C  G
C  G  C  G  C  G  C  G
C  G  C  G  C  G  C  G
C  G  D  C  G  C  D  G

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

This song is narrated by a lonesome hobo, a figure central to early 20th-century American society, often traveling by train and working odd jobs to survive. The lyrics draw a powerful parallel between this vagabond character and Cain from the Book of Genesis, who was cursed to wander the earth. Released on the 1967 album John Wesley Harding, this track stands out as the most blues-rock oriented on the album, despite its acoustic instrumentation. Playing this song channels a feeling of solitary wandering and profound reflection on life's burdens.

AI-written from these sources:I Am a Lonesome Hobo — Wikipedia ↗Bob Dylan — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

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

I Am A Lonesome Hobo

by Bob Dylan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

= 320031

= 320033

[Intro]

G7 F C G

[Instrumental]

G C G C G C G C

G C G C G C G

[Verse 1]

C G C G

I am a lonesome hobo

C G C G C G

Without family or friends

C G C G

Where another man's life might begin

C G C G C G

That's exactly where mine ends

C G C G

I have tried my hand at bribery

C G C G C G

Blackmail and deceit

C G D C G

And I've served time for everything

C D G C G C G C G

'Cept beggin' on the street

[Verse 2]

C G C G

Well, once I was rather prosperous

C G C G C G

There was nothing I did lack

C G C G

I had fourteen-karat gold in my mouth

C G C G C G

And silk upon my back

C G C G

But I did not trust my brother

C G C G C G

I carried him to blame

C G D C G

Which led me to my fatal doom

C D G C G

To wander off in shame

[Instrumental]

C G C G C G

C G C G C G C G

[Verse 3]

C G C G

Kind ladies and kind gentlemen

C G C G C G

Soon I will be gone

C G C G

But let me just warn you all

C G C G

Before I do pass on

C G C G

Stay free from petty jealousies

C G C G C G

Live by no man's code

C G D C G

And hold your judgment for yourself

C D G C G

Lest you wind up on this road

[Outro]

C G C G C G C G

C G D C G C D G

About I Am A Lonesome Hobo Chords by Bob Dylan

Learn how to play I Am A Lonesome Hobo by Bob Dylan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Am A Lonesome Hobo chords”, “I Am A Lonesome Hobo guitar chords”, or “Bob Dylan I Am A Lonesome Hobo 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 I Am A Lonesome Hobo chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Am A Lonesome Hobo lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G7, G, F, C, D.

FAQ — I Am A Lonesome Hobo by Bob Dylan

How do I play "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" by Bob Dylan on guitar?

Open the free chords for "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" by Bob Dylan 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 "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" by Bob Dylan free?

Yes. The chords for "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" by Bob Dylan are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "I Am A Lonesome Hobo"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" by Bob Dylan with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bob Dylan below.

What key is "I Am A Lonesome Hobo" in?

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