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Ludlow Massacre

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I'm pretty sure this is right. It's fingerpicked, but here are the chords:
It was early Gspringtime when the strike was on
They drove us Cminers out of Gdoors
Out from the Chouses that the company Gowned
We moved into D7tents up at old LudGlow
I was worried bad about my children
Soldiers guarding the railroad bridge
Every once in a while a bullet would fly
Kick up gravel under our feet
We were so afraid you’d kill our children
Dug us a cave that was seven foot deep
Carried our young ones and a pregnant women
Down inside the cave to sleep
That very night you soldiers waited
‘Till all us miners was a sleep
You snuck around our little tent town
Soaked our tents with your kerosene
You struck a match and the blaze it started
You pulled the triggers of your Gatling guns
I made a run for the children but the firewall stopped me
Thirteen children died from your gun
I carried my blanket to a wire-fence corner
Watched the fire ‘till the blaze died down
I helped some people drag their belongings
While your bullets killed us all around
I never will forget the look on the faces
Of the men and women on that awful day
When we stood around to preach their funeral
And lay the corpses of the dead away
We told the Colorado governor to phone the president
Tell him call off his national guard
But the national guard belonged to the governor
So he didn’t try so very hard
Our women from Trinidad they hauled some potatoes
Up to Wallensburg in a little cart
They sold their potatoes and brought some guns back
And they put a gun in every hand
The state soldiers jumped us in the wire-fence corners
Did not know that we had these guns
And the redneck miners mowed down them troopers
You should of seen them poor boys run
We took some cement and walled the cave up
Where you killed these thirteen children inside
I said, “God bless the mine workers’ union”
And I hung my head and cried

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

This song tells the story of the Ludlow Massacre, a tragic labor conflict from 1914, written as if the songwriter was present on the day it happened. It's meant to immerse the listener in the event, highlighting the human cost of the struggle to build trade unions. The song serves as a powerful reminder, urging listeners to ensure such an event, where children and a pregnant woman were killed for cheap wages, never happens again. It's a call to remember and to fight for justice.

AI-written from these sources:Ludlow Massacre (song) — Wikipedia ↗Woody Guthrie — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Ludlow Massacre

by Woody Guthrie

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

I'm pretty sure this is right. It's fingerpicked, but here are the chords:

It was early springtime when the strike was on

C G

They drove us miners out of doors

C G

Out from the houses that the company owned

D7 G

We moved into tents up at old Ludlow

I was worried bad about my children

Soldiers guarding the railroad bridge

Every once in a while a bullet would fly

Kick up gravel under our feet

We were so afraid you’d kill our children

Dug us a cave that was seven foot deep

Carried our young ones and a pregnant women

Down inside the cave to sleep

That very night you soldiers waited

‘Till all us miners was a sleep

You snuck around our little tent town

Soaked our tents with your kerosene

You struck a match and the blaze it started

You pulled the triggers of your Gatling guns

I made a run for the children but the firewall stopped me

Thirteen children died from your gun

I carried my blanket to a wire-fence corner

Watched the fire ‘till the blaze died down

I helped some people drag their belongings

While your bullets killed us all around

I never will forget the look on the faces

Of the men and women on that awful day

When we stood around to preach their funeral

And lay the corpses of the dead away

We told the Colorado governor to phone the president

Tell him call off his national guard

But the national guard belonged to the governor

So he didn’t try so very hard

Our women from Trinidad they hauled some potatoes

Up to Wallensburg in a little cart

They sold their potatoes and brought some guns back

And they put a gun in every hand

The state soldiers jumped us in the wire-fence corners

Did not know that we had these guns

And the redneck miners mowed down them troopers

You should of seen them poor boys run

We took some cement and walled the cave up

Where you killed these thirteen children inside

I said, “God bless the mine workers’ union”

And I hung my head and cried

About Ludlow Massacre Chords by Woody Guthrie

Learn how to play Ludlow Massacre by Woody Guthrie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ludlow Massacre chords”, “Ludlow Massacre guitar chords”, or “Woody Guthrie Ludlow Massacre 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 Ludlow Massacre chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ludlow Massacre lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D7.

FAQ — Ludlow Massacre by Woody Guthrie

How do I play "Ludlow Massacre" by Woody Guthrie on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ludlow Massacre" by Woody Guthrie 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 "Ludlow Massacre" by Woody Guthrie free?

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Can I transpose "Ludlow Massacre" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ludlow Massacre"?

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

Is "Ludlow Massacre" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ludlow Massacre" by Woody Guthrie with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Woody Guthrie below.

What key is "Ludlow Massacre" in?

The chords for "Ludlow Massacre" show the original chord names (including G, C, D7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.