Now playing

A History Lesson

Chords

4.65 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Stephen:
I have to do the vocals for Medieval Bush.
Friends:
Why?
Stephen:
Cause I said 1570's muff instead of 1470's muff 
and the medieval period ended at the beginning 
of the 16th century.
Friends:
So thats 1500's.
Wait! So how do you know this?
Stephen:
Cause I used to be a teacher.
Friends:
(Laugh)You used to be a teacher?
Stephen:
Yes.
Friends:
Professor?
Stephen:
No, I taught elementary school and I got fired 
because I had an unorthodox way of teaching which 
is I would bring in my guitar and...
I never told you this?
Friends:
No!
Stephen:
I would bring in my guitar and I would sing the 
lessons to the children.
Friends:
Of course you did.
Stephen:
I am dead serious.
Friends:
Yes.
Stephen:
I am. Alright, alright hold on I'll give you one 
of the... Let me remember.
Alright here's one I remember, okay? 
This is Ben Franklin. 
   Am     C2x
AmBen Franklin went Cout one night,
AmTied a key to the Cend of a kite,
AmElectricity sCtruck so bright,
Dm                 Am (-> not sure about this one)
Write it down muthafuckas
Friends:
You called the kids motherfuckers?
Stephen:
Some of them were motherfuckers, yes.
Friends:
Science
Stephen:
Ummm... okay!
AmIssac Newton sat Cunder a tree,
AmAn apple hit him in the Chead so he,
AmSaid holy shit that's Cgravity,
DmWrite it down muthafucAmkas
Stephen:
I have a million of these.
Friends:
Then why don't you do the pilgrims?
Stephen:
Okay... hey now and...
AmPilgrims raced agaCinst the clock,
AmLooking for a Cplace to dock,
AmThey said fuck it here's CPlymouth Rock,
DmWrite it down muthaAmfuckas.
Friends:
I don't like the fact that you are implying that the 
pilgrims were lazy.
Stephen:
I'm not implying anything.
Friend:
Wright Brothers.
Oooh that's a good one.
Stephen:
Uh...
AmA dude named COrville Wright,
AmTold his bro lets Cinvent flight,
AmSo Wilbur said "igCht",
DmWrite it down muthaAmfuckas
Stephen:
Yes, yes Wilbur said "ight"
Friend:
Wilbur said "ight"?
Stephen:
In my story he did.
Friend:
Wilbur was street in your story?
Stephen:
That's right.
Friend:
Word.
Stephen:
See, you can't stump me
Friend:
Slavery?
Stephen:
Uh there is nothing funny about slavery... well...
AmAbe Lincoln Clead the nation,
AmFreed slaves form Cthe plantation,
AmEmanci-mothafuckin' Cproclamation,
DmWrite it down anaAmnem-ops.
Friend:
Gandhi!
Stephen:
Uh... I did not have a Ghandi one. Uh... 
Alright hold on, hold on, hold on. 
Gandhi... Uh... alright.
(Slowly) 
AmGandhi is Cwhat you said,
AmAn Indian with Ca bald head,
AmAnd he was a bit Cunder fed,
DmWrite is down muthaAmfuckas!
Stephen:
See?! Yeah! Fired from that job!
Friend:
Your a genius.
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
I think this is correct. If you don't think it sounds right, 
by all means correct me. :-)
Enjoy the song!

All chords in this song (3)

🎸 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

A History Lesson

by Stephen Lynch

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Stephen:

I have to do the vocals for Medieval Bush.

Friends:

Why?

Stephen:

Cause I said 1570's muff instead of 1470's muff

and the medieval period ended at the beginning

of the 16th century.

Friends:

So thats 1500's.

Wait! So how do you know this?

Stephen:

Cause I used to be a teacher.

Friends:

(Laugh)You used to be a teacher?

Stephen:

Yes.

Friends:

Professor?

Stephen:

No, I taught elementary school and I got fired

because I had an unorthodox way of teaching which

is I would bring in my guitar and...

I never told you this?

Friends:

No!

Stephen:

I would bring in my guitar and I would sing the

lessons to the children.

Friends:

Of course you did.

Stephen:

I am dead serious.

Friends:

Yes.

Stephen:

I am. Alright, alright hold on I'll give you one

of the... Let me remember.

Alright here's one I remember, okay?

This is Ben Franklin.

Am C

Ben Franklin went out one night,

Am C

Tied a key to the end of a kite,

Am C

Electricity struck so bright,

Dm Am (-> not sure about this one)

Write it down muthafuckas

Friends:

You called the kids motherfuckers?

Stephen:

Some of them were motherfuckers, yes.

Friends:

Science

Stephen:

Ummm... okay!

Am C

Issac Newton sat under a tree,

Am C

An apple hit him in the head so he,

Am C

Said holy shit that's gravity,

Dm Am

Write it down muthafuckas

Stephen:

I have a million of these.

Friends:

Then why don't you do the pilgrims?

Stephen:

Okay... hey now and...

Am C

Pilgrims raced against the clock,

Am C

Looking for a place to dock,

Am C

They said fuck it here's Plymouth Rock,

Dm Am

Write it down muthafuckas.

Friends:

I don't like the fact that you are implying that the

pilgrims were lazy.

Stephen:

I'm not implying anything.

Friend:

Wright Brothers.

Oooh that's a good one.

Stephen:

Uh...

Am C

A dude named Orville Wright,

Am C

Told his bro lets invent flight,

Am C

So Wilbur said "ight",

Dm Am

Write it down muthafuckas

Stephen:

Yes, yes Wilbur said "ight"

Friend:

Wilbur said "ight"?

Stephen:

In my story he did.

Friend:

Wilbur was street in your story?

Stephen:

That's right.

Friend:

Word.

Stephen:

See, you can't stump me

Friend:

Slavery?

Stephen:

Uh there is nothing funny about slavery... well...

Am C

Abe Lincoln lead the nation,

Am C

Freed slaves form the plantation,

Am C

Emanci-mothafuckin' proclamation,

Dm Am

Write it down ananem-ops.

Friend:

Gandhi!

Stephen:

Uh... I did not have a Ghandi one. Uh...

Alright hold on, hold on, hold on.

Gandhi... Uh... alright.

(Slowly)

Am C

Gandhi is what you said,

Am C

An Indian with a bald head,

Am C

And he was a bit under fed,

Dm Am

Write is down muthafuckas!

Stephen:

See?! Yeah! Fired from that job!

Friend:

Your a genius.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I think this is correct. If you don't think it sounds right,

by all means correct me. :-)

Enjoy the song!

About A History Lesson Chords by Stephen Lynch

Learn how to play A History Lesson by Stephen Lynch with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A History Lesson chords”, “A History Lesson guitar chords”, or “Stephen Lynch A History Lesson 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 A History Lesson chords and for experienced players who want accurate A History Lesson lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, Dm, A.

FAQ — A History Lesson by Stephen Lynch

How do I play "A History Lesson" by Stephen Lynch on guitar?

Open the free chords for "A History Lesson" by Stephen Lynch 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 "A History Lesson" by Stephen Lynch free?

Yes. The chords for "A History Lesson" by Stephen Lynch are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "A History Lesson" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "A History Lesson"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "A History Lesson" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "A History Lesson" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "A History Lesson" by Stephen Lynch with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Stephen Lynch below.

What key is "A History Lesson" in?

The chords for "A History Lesson" show the original chord names (including Am, C, Dm, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.