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I Shall Be Free

Chords

4.819 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Chords]
   D7susx00213
C/G     xx2013 (or 3x2013)
[Intro]
G D7 G C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G G
[Verse 1]
Well, I D7sustook me a woman late last night
I was three-fourths drunk, she looked alGrightC/G  G  C/G  G  
'Til she D7susstarted peelin' off her onion-gook
She took off her wig, an' said, "How do I Glook?"C/G  G  
I was C/Ghigh-flyin'G  C/G  G  
Bare-C/GnakedG  C/G  G  
Out the C/GwindowG  D7  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 2]
Well, D7sussometimes I might get drunk
Walk like a duck and C/Gsmell like a Gskunk
Don't D7sushurt me none, it don't hurt my pride
'Cause I got my little lady right by my GsideC/G  G  
She's-a C/Gtryin' to hGideC/G  G  
Pretendin' C/Gshe don't know GmeD7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 3]
I's D7susout there paintin' on the old woodshed
When a can of black paint it fell on my GheadC/G  G  
D7susI went down to scrub and rub
But I had to sit in C/Gback of the GtubC/G  G  
Cost a C/GquarterG  D7sus  
Half-priceC/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  
[Verse 4]
Well, my D7sustelephone rang, it would not stop
It's President Kennedy callin' me GupC/G  G  
He said, D7sus"My friend Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"
I said, "My friend John, Brigitte BarGdotC/G  G  
Anita C/GEkbergG  C/G  G  
Sophia C/GLorenG  C/G  G  
Country-OC/G-Grow"G  D7  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 5]
Well, D7susI got a woman four feet short
She yells and hollers and C/Gscreams and GsnortsC/G  G  
She D7sustickles my nose pats me on the head
Rolls me over and C/Gkicks me outta GbedC/G  G  
She's a C/Gman-eatGerC/G  G  
C/GMeat-grinGderC/G  G  
Bad losD7suserC/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 6]
Oh, D7susthere ain't no use in me workin' all the time
I got a woman who works C/Gherself Gblind
Works D7susup to her britches, up to her neck
Writes me letters and C/Gsends me Gchecks
She's a C/GhumdingerG  C/G  G  
Folk C/GsingerG  D7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 7]
D7susLate one day in the middle of the week
Eyes were closed, I was C/Ghalf aGsleep
I D7suschased me a woman up the hill
Right in the middle of an C/Gair raid GdrillC/G  G  
I jumped the C/Gfallout shelGterC/G  G  
I jumped the C/Gstring-beanG  C/G  G  
I jumped the C/GTV dinnerG  C/G  G  
I jumped the C/GshotGgunD7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 8]
Now, the D7susman on the stand, he wants my vote
He's a-runnin' for office on a C/Gballot nGote
He's D7susout there preachin' in front of the steeple
Tellin' me he loves all C/Gkinds of GpeopleC/G  G  
He's eatin' C/GbagelsG  C/G  G  
He's eatin' C/GpizzaG  C/G  G  
He's eatin' C/GchitGlinsD7  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 9]
Oh, I D7susset me down on the television floor
I flipped the channel on to C/Gnumber Gfour
D7susOut of the shower comes a football man
With a bottle of oil C/Gin his GhandC/G  G  
Greasy C/Gkid stuffG  C/G  G  C/G  G  
But what D7susI want to know, Mr. Football Man
Is what do you do about   C/GWilly GMays?C/G  G  C/G  G  
Martin LuthC/Ger KingG?C/G  G  
Oula TunC/Gjee?D7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 10]
Well, the D7susfunniest woman I ever seen
Was the great-granddaughter of Mr. GCleaC/GnG  
She takes D7susabout fifteen baths a day
Wants me to grow a mustache C/Gon my Gface
She's C/GinsaGneC/G  D7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G  
[Verse 11]
Well, ya D7susask me why I'm drunk all the time
It levels my head and C/Geases my GmindC/G  G  
I just D7suswalk along and stroll and sing
I'll see better days and I'll C/Gdo better GthingC/GsG  
I'll catch C/GdinosaursG  C/G  G  
Make love to C/GElizabeth TaylGorC/G  G  
Catch hell from C/GRichard BurtGonC/G  G  C/G  D7sus  C/G  G  C/G  G  

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

This song serves as a comedic counterpoint to the more serious material found on the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. It reworks an earlier song, "We Shall Be Free," which was performed by Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, and Sonny Terry in the 1940s, and itself was likely an adaptation of a 19th-century spiritual. Playing it feels like an embrace of lightheartedness and freedom.

AI-written from these sources:I Shall Be Free — Wikipedia ↗Bob Dylan — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

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

I Shall Be Free

by Bob Dylan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D7sus

C/G

[Chords]

D7sus

x00213

C/G xx2013 (or 3x2013)

[Intro]

G D7 G C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G G

[Verse 1]

D7sus

Well, I took me a woman late last night

G C/G G C/G G

I was three-fourths drunk, she looked alright

D7sus

'Til she started peelin' off her onion-gook

G C/G G

She took off her wig, an' said, "How do I look?"

C/G G C/G G

I was high-flyin'

C/G G C/G G

Bare-naked

C/G G D7 C/G G C/G G

Out the window

[Verse 2]

D7sus

Well, sometimes I might get drunk

C/G G

Walk like a duck and smell like a skunk

D7sus

Don't hurt me none, it don't hurt my pride

G C/G G

'Cause I got my little lady right by my side

C/G G C/G G

She's-a tryin' to hide

C/G G D7sus C/G G C/G G C/G G

Pretendin' she don't know me

[Verse 3]

D7sus

I's out there paintin' on the old woodshed

G C/G G

When a can of black paint it fell on my head

D7sus

I went down to scrub and rub

C/G G C/G G

But I had to sit in back of the tub

C/G G D7sus

Cost a quarter

C/G G C/G G C/G

Half-price

[Verse 4]

D7sus

Well, my telephone rang, it would not stop

G C/G G

It's President Kennedy callin' me up

D7sus

He said, "My friend Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"

G C/G G

I said, "My friend John, Brigitte Bardot

C/G G C/G G

Anita Ekberg

C/G G C/G G

Sophia Loren

C/G G D7 C/G G C/G G C/G G

Country-O-Grow"

[Verse 5]

D7sus

Well, I got a woman four feet short

C/G G C/G G

She yells and hollers and screams and snorts

D7sus

She tickles my nose pats me on the head

C/G G C/G G

Rolls me over and kicks me outta bed

C/G G C/G G

She's a man-eater

C/G G C/G G

Meat-grinder

D7sus C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G G

Bad loser

[Verse 6]

D7sus

Oh, there ain't no use in me workin' all the time

C/G G

I got a woman who works herself blind

D7sus

Works up to her britches, up to her neck

C/G G

Writes me letters and sends me checks

C/G G C/G G

She's a humdinger

C/G G D7sus C/G G C/G G C/G G

Folk singer

[Verse 7]

D7sus

Late one day in the middle of the week

C/G G

Eyes were closed, I was half asleep

D7sus

I chased me a woman up the hill

C/G G C/G G

Right in the middle of an air raid drill

C/G G C/G G

I jumped the fallout shelter

C/G G C/G G

I jumped the string-bean

C/G G C/G G

I jumped the TV dinner

C/G G D7sus C/G G C/G G

I jumped the shotgun

[Verse 8]

D7sus

Now, the man on the stand, he wants my vote

C/G G

He's a-runnin' for office on a ballot note

D7sus

He's out there preachin' in front of the steeple

C/G G C/G G

Tellin' me he loves all kinds of people

C/G G C/G G

He's eatin' bagels

C/G G C/G G

He's eatin' pizza

C/G G D7 C/G G C/G G C/G G

He's eatin' chitlins

[Verse 9]

D7sus

Oh, I set me down on the television floor

C/G G

I flipped the channel on to number four

D7sus

Out of the shower comes a football man

C/G G C/G G

With a bottle of oil in his hand

C/G G C/G G C/G G

Greasy kid stuff

D7sus

But what I want to know, Mr. Football Man

C/G G C/G G C/G G

Is what do you do about Willy Mays?

C/G G C/G G

Martin Luther King?

C/G D7sus C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G G

Oula Tunjee?

[Verse 10]

D7sus

Well, the funniest woman I ever seen

G C/G G

Was the great-granddaughter of Mr. Clean

D7sus

She takes about fifteen baths a day

C/G G

Wants me to grow a mustache on my face

C/G G C/G D7sus C/G G C/G G C/G G

She's insane

[Verse 11]

D7sus

Well, ya ask me why I'm drunk all the time

C/G G C/G G

It levels my head and eases my mind

D7sus

I just walk along and stroll and sing

C/G G C/G G

I'll see better days and I'll do better things

C/G G C/G G

I'll catch dinosaurs

C/G G C/G G

Make love to Elizabeth Taylor

C/G G C/G G C/G D7sus C/G G C/G G

Catch hell from Richard Burton

About I Shall Be Free Chords by Bob Dylan

Learn how to play I Shall Be Free by Bob Dylan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Shall Be Free chords”, “I Shall Be Free guitar chords”, or “Bob Dylan I Shall Be Free 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 Shall Be Free chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Shall Be Free lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D7sus, C/G, G, D7.

FAQ — I Shall Be Free by Bob Dylan

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Can I transpose "I Shall Be Free" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "I Shall Be Free"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "I Shall Be Free" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "I Shall Be Free" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "I Shall Be Free" 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 Shall Be Free" in?

The chords for "I Shall Be Free" show the original chord names (including D7sus, C/G, G, D7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.