Now playing
Its Alright Ma
Chords
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
intro/riff : d(1) d(2) slide to d(3) slide back to d(2)
D/BDarkness at the break of noon
D/AShadows even the silver spoon
D/CThe handmade blade, the child's balloon
D/BEclipses both the sun and moon
D/BbTo understand you know too soon
riff
There is no sense in trying.
D/BPointed threats, they bluff with scorn
D/ASuicide remarks are torn
D/CFrom the fools gold mouthpiece
D/BThe hollow horn plays wasted words
D/BbProved to warn
That he not busy being born
riff
Is busy dying.
D/BTemptation's page flies out the door
D/AYou follow, find yourself at war
D/CWatch waterfalls of pity roar
D/BYou feel to moan but unlike before
D/BbYou discover
D/BbThat you'd just be
D/BbOne more person crying.
DSo don't fear iAf you hear
DA foreign sound Gto you ear
D A G A DRiff
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.
So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your
ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm
only sighing.
(D/B)As some warn victory,
some downfall
(D/A)Private reasons great or
small
(D/C)Can be seen in the eyes
of those that call
(D/B)To make all that should
be killed to crawl
(D/Bb)While others say don't
hate nothing at all
Except hatred.
(D/B)Disillusioned words like
bullets bark
(D/A)As human gods aim for
their mark
(D/C)Made everything from toy
guns that spark
(D/B)To flesh-colored Christs
that glow in the dark
(D/B)It's easy to see without
looking too far
(D/Bb)That not much
Is really sacred.
DWhile preachers prAeach of
evil fates
(D)Teachers teach that
(G)knowledge waits
(D)Can lead to
(A)Goodness hides behind its
gates
(G)But even the president of
the United States
(A)Sometimes must have
To stand naked.
(D/B)
An' though the rules of
the road have been lodged
It's only people's games
that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I
can make it.
(D/A)
Advertising signs that
con you
Into thinking you're the
one
That can do what's never
been done
That can win what's never
been won
Meantime life outside
goes on
All around you.
(D/C)
You lose yourself, you
reappear
You suddenly find you got
nothing to fear
Alone you stand with
nobody near
When a trembling distant
voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping
ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.
(D/B)
A question in your nerves
is lit
Yet you know there is no
answer fit to satisfy
Insure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind
and not forget
That it is not he or she
or them or it
That you belong to.
(D/Bb)
Although the masters make
the rules
For the wise men and the
fools
I got nothing, Ma, to
live up to.
(D/A)
For them that must obey
authority
That they do not respect
in any degree
Who despise their jobs,
their destinies
Speak jealously of them
that are free
to be
Nothing more than
something
They invest in.
(D/C)
While some on principles
baptized
To strict party platform
ties
Social clubs in drag
Outsiders they can freely
criticize
Tell nothing except who
to idolize
And then say God bless
him.
D/BbWhile one who sings with
his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race
choir
Bent out of shape from
society's pliers
Cares not to come up any
higher
But rather get you down
in the hole
That he's in.
(D/A)
But I mean no harm nor
put fault
On anyone that lives in a
vault
But it's alright, Ma, if
I can't please him.
(D/C)
Old lady judges watch
people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals,
insult and stare
While money doesn't talk,
it swears
Obscenity, who really
cares Propaganda, all is
phony.
D/BbWhile them that defend
what they cannot see
With a killer's pride,
security
It blows the minds most
bitterly
For them that think
death's honesty
Won't fall upon them
naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely.
D/BMy eyes collide head-on
with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff
At pettiness which plays
so rough
Walk upside-down inside
handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it
off
Say okay, I have had
enough
What else can you show
me?
D/CAnd if my thought-dreams
could be seen
They'd probably put my
head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma,
it's life, and life only.
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
Its Alright Ma
by The Byrds
Chords in this song · guitar
D/B
D/A
D/C
D/Bb
D
A
G
intro/riff : d(1) d(2) slide to d(3) slide back to d(2)
D/B
Darkness at the break of noon
D/A
Shadows even the silver spoon
D/C
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
D/B
Eclipses both the sun and moon
D/Bb
To understand you know too soon
riff
There is no sense in trying.
D/B
Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
D/A
Suicide remarks are torn
D/C
From the fools gold mouthpiece
D/B
The hollow horn plays wasted words
D/Bb
Proved to warn
That he not busy being born
riff
Is busy dying.
D/B
Temptation's page flies out the door
D/A
You follow, find yourself at war
D/C
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
D/B
You feel to moan but unlike before
D/Bb
You discover
D/Bb
That you'd just be
D/Bb
One more person crying.
D A
So don't fear if you hear
D G
A foreign sound to you ear
D A G A D
Riff
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.
So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your
ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm
only sighing.
(D/B)As some warn victory,
some downfall
(D/A)Private reasons great or
small
(D/C)Can be seen in the eyes
of those that call
(D/B)To make all that should
be killed to crawl
(D/Bb)While others say don't
hate nothing at all
Except hatred.
(D/B)Disillusioned words like
bullets bark
(D/A)As human gods aim for
their mark
(D/C)Made everything from toy
guns that spark
(D/B)To flesh-colored Christs
that glow in the dark
(D/B)It's easy to see without
looking too far
(D/Bb)That not much
Is really sacred.
D A
While preachers preach of
evil fates
(D)Teachers teach that
G
()knowledge waits
(D)Can lead to
(A)Goodness hides behind its
gates
(G)But even the president of
the United States
(A)Sometimes must have
To stand naked.
D/B
()
An' though the rules of
the road have been lodged
It's only people's games
that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I
can make it.
D/A
()
Advertising signs that
con you
Into thinking you're the
one
That can do what's never
been done
That can win what's never
been won
Meantime life outside
goes on
All around you.
D/C
()
You lose yourself, you
reappear
You suddenly find you got
nothing to fear
Alone you stand with
nobody near
When a trembling distant
voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping
ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.
D/B
()
A question in your nerves
is lit
Yet you know there is no
answer fit to satisfy
Insure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind
and not forget
That it is not he or she
or them or it
That you belong to.
D/Bb
()
Although the masters make
the rules
For the wise men and the
fools
I got nothing, Ma, to
live up to.
D/A
()
For them that must obey
authority
That they do not respect
in any degree
Who despise their jobs,
their destinies
Speak jealously of them
that are free
to be
Nothing more than
something
They invest in.
D/C
()
While some on principles
baptized
To strict party platform
ties
Social clubs in drag
Outsiders they can freely
criticize
Tell nothing except who
to idolize
And then say God bless
him.
D/Bb
While one who sings with
his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race
choir
Bent out of shape from
society's pliers
Cares not to come up any
higher
But rather get you down
in the hole
That he's in.
D/A
()
But I mean no harm nor
put fault
On anyone that lives in a
vault
But it's alright, Ma, if
I can't please him.
D/C
()
Old lady judges watch
people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals,
insult and stare
While money doesn't talk,
it swears
Obscenity, who really
cares Propaganda, all is
phony.
D/Bb
While them that defend
what they cannot see
With a killer's pride,
security
It blows the minds most
bitterly
For them that think
death's honesty
Won't fall upon them
naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely.
D/B
My eyes collide head-on
with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff
At pettiness which plays
so rough
Walk upside-down inside
handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it
off
Say okay, I have had
enough
What else can you show
me?
D/C
And if my thought-dreams
could be seen
They'd probably put my
head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma,
it's life, and life only.
Get the free app — iPhone: The Chord Book on the App Store · Android: Free Chords on Google Play
Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers. Free for personal practice.
About Its Alright Ma Chords by The Byrds
Learn how to play Its Alright Ma by The Byrds with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Its Alright Ma chords”, “Its Alright Ma guitar chords”, or “The Byrds Its Alright Ma 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 Its Alright Ma chords and for experienced players who want accurate Its Alright Ma lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D/B, D/A, D/C, D/Bb, D, A.
FAQ — Its Alright Ma by The Byrds
How do I play "Its Alright Ma" by The Byrds on guitar?
Open the free chords for "Its Alright Ma" by The Byrds 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 "Its Alright Ma" by The Byrds free?
Yes. The chords for "Its Alright Ma" by The Byrds are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.
Can I transpose "Its Alright Ma" to a different key?
Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Its Alright Ma" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.
Can I see chord diagrams for "Its Alright Ma"?
Yes. Tap any chord in "Its Alright Ma" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.
Is "Its Alright Ma" easy to play on guitar?
Many players learn "Its Alright Ma" by The Byrds with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Byrds below.
What key is "Its Alright Ma" in?
The chords for "Its Alright Ma" show the original chord names (including D/B, D/A, D/C, D/Bb, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.