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I Dream A Highway

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Standard Tuning with a Capo on 4th Fret
The C chords are a C/G shape, which creates the distinctive sound on the recording.
Partial Em7 pickups lead into the Em7 chords on the downbeat of the chorus.
[Intro]
Em7  G  C  C
[Chorus]
Oh, I Em7dream a Ghighway back to Cyou love
A Em7winding Gribbon with a bCand of Ggold
A Em7silver Gvision come and Crest my Gsoul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Verse 1]
Em7John he's Gkicking out the Cfootlights
The Em7Grand Ole GOpry's got a brCand new Gband
Em7Lord, let me Gdie with a Chammer in my Ghand
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Verse 2]
Em7I think I'll Gmove down into CMemphis
And Em7thank the Ghatchet man who Cforked my Gtongue
Em7I lie and Gwait until the Cwagons Gcome
And Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 3]
The Em7getaway Gkicking up Ccinders
An Em7empty Gwagon full of Crattling Gbones
Em7Moon in the Gmirror on a Cthree-hour Gjones
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Chorus]
Oh, I Em7dream a Ghighway back to Cyou love
A Em7winding Gribbon with a bCand of Ggold
A Em7silver Gvision come arrCest my Gsoul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 4]
Which Em7lover arGe you, Jack of CDiamonds?
Now Em7you be GEmmylou and CI'll be GGram
I Em7send a Gletter, don't know Cwho I Gam
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 5]
I'm an Em7indisGguisable shade of Ctwilight
Any Em7second noGw I'm gonna Cturn myself Gon
In Em7the blue disGplay of the Ccool cathode Gray
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Verse 6]
I Em7wish you Gknew me, Jack of CDiamonds
          Em7                 GC.       
Fire-riding, wheeling when I lead 'em up
Drank whCisky with my Gwater, Csugar with my Gtea
My Csails in Grags with the staCggers and the jaGgs
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Chorus]
Oh, I Em7dream a hGighway back to Cyou love
A Em7winding Gribbon with a bCand of Ggold
A Em7silver Gvision come molCest my Gsoul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 7]
NoEm7w give me Gsome of what you're ChavingC  
I'll Em7take you as a Gviper inCto my Ghead
A knEm7ife into my beGd, arCsenic when I'm Gfed
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Verse 8]
Em7Hang overGhead from all direCctions
Em7RadiaGtion from the Cporcelain Glight
Em7Blind and Gblistered by the Cmorning Gwhite
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 9]
Em7Sunday Gmorning at the Cdiner
Em7Hollywood Gtrembles on the veCrge of Gtears
Em7I watched the Gwaitress for a Cthousand Gyears
Saw a Cwheel inside a whGeel, heard a Ccall within a caGll
And I Em7dreamed a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Chorus]
Oh, I Gdream a Ghighway back to Gyou love
         G       G(C/G)          C      G  
A winding ribbon with a band of gold
        G        G(C/G)          C        G  
A silver vision come possess my soul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Break]
[Verse 10]
Em7Step inGto the light, poor CLazarus
Don't Em7lie alone Gbehind the Cwindow Gshade
Em7Let me Gsee the maCrk death Gmade
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Verse 11]
Em7What will sustGain us through the Cwinter?
Em7Where did Glast year's Clessons Ggo?
Em7Walk me Gout into the raCin and Gsnow
I Em7dream a higGhway back to Cyou.
[Chorus]
Oh, I Em7dream a Ghighway back to Cyou love
A Em7winding Gribbon with a bCand of Ggold
A Em7silver Gvision come and Cbless my Gsoul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Chorus]
Oh I Gdream a Ghighway back to Gyou love.
A Gwinding Gribbon with a Cband of Ggold
A Gsilver Gvision come and Cbless my Gsoul
I Em7dream a hiGghway back to Cyou.
[Outro]

All chords in this song (4)

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I Dream A Highway

by Gillian Welch

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

C/G

Standard Tuning with a Capo on 4th Fret

The C chords are a C/G shape, which creates the distinctive sound on the recording.

Partial Em7 pickups lead into the Em7 chords on the downbeat of the chorus.

[Intro]

Em7 G C C

[Chorus]

Em7 G C

Oh, I dream a highway back to you love

Em7 G C G

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

Em7 G C G

A silver vision come and rest my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Verse 1]

Em7 G C

John he's kicking out the footlights

Em7 G C G

The Grand Ole Opry's got a brand new band

Em7 G C G

Lord, let me die with a hammer in my hand

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Verse 2]

Em7 G C

I think I'll move down into Memphis

Em7 G C G

And thank the hatchet man who forked my tongue

Em7 G C G

I lie and wait until the wagons come

Em7 G C

And dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 3]

Em7 G C

The getaway kicking up cinders

Em7 G C G

An empty wagon full of rattling bones

Em7 G C G

Moon in the mirror on a three-hour jones

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Chorus]

Em7 G C

Oh, I dream a highway back to you love

Em7 G C G

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

Em7 G C G

A silver vision come arrest my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 4]

Em7 G C

Which lover are you, Jack of Diamonds?

Em7 G C G

Now you be Emmylou and I'll be Gram

Em7 G C G

I send a letter, don't know who I am

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 5]

Em7 G C

I'm an indisguisable shade of twilight

Em7 G C G

Any second now I'm gonna turn myself on

Em7 G C G

In the blue display of the cool cathode ray

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Verse 6]

Em7 G C

I wish you knew me, Jack of Diamonds

Em7 G

Fire-riding, wheeling when I lead 'em up

C G C G

Drank whisky with my water, sugar with my tea

C G C G

My sails in rags with the staggers and the jags

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Chorus]

Em7 G C

Oh, I dream a highway back to you love

Em7 G C G

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

Em7 G C G

A silver vision come molest my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 7]

Em7 G C C

Now give me some of what you're having

Em7 G C G

I'll take you as a viper into my head

Em7 G C G

A knife into my bed, arsenic when I'm fed

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Verse 8]

Em7 G C

Hang overhead from all directions

Em7 G C G

Radiation from the porcelain light

Em7 G C G

Blind and blistered by the morning white

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 9]

Em7 G C

Sunday morning at the diner

Em7 G C G

Hollywood trembles on the verge of tears

Em7 G C G

I watched the waitress for a thousand years

C G C G

Saw a wheel inside a wheel, heard a call within a call

Em7 G C

And I dreamed a highway back to you.

[Chorus]

G G G

Oh, I dream a highway back to you love

G G C/G C G

()

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

G G C/G C G

()

A silver vision come possess my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Break]

[Verse 10]

Em7 G C

Step into the light, poor Lazarus

Em7 G C G

Don't lie alone behind the window shade

Em7 G C G

Let me see the mark death made

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Verse 11]

Em7 G C

What will sustain us through the winter?

Em7 G C G

Where did last year's lessons go?

Em7 G C G

Walk me out into the rain and snow

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Chorus]

Em7 G C

Oh, I dream a highway back to you love

Em7 G C G

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

Em7 G C G

A silver vision come and bless my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Chorus]

G G G

Oh I dream a highway back to you love.

G G C G

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

G G C G

A silver vision come and bless my soul

Em7 G C

I dream a highway back to you.

[Outro]

About I Dream A Highway Chords by Gillian Welch

Learn how to play I Dream A Highway by Gillian Welch with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Dream A Highway chords”, “I Dream A Highway guitar chords”, or “Gillian Welch I Dream A Highway 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 Dream A Highway chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Dream A Highway lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, C/G, Em7, G, A.

FAQ — I Dream A Highway by Gillian Welch

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What key is "I Dream A Highway" in?

The chords for "I Dream A Highway" show the original chord names (including C, C/G, Em7, G, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.