Now playing

Golden Boy

Chords

4.9121 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

D6: xx0202
[Spoken]
Hello there Paul
I had a take and I was ready to send it and I thought
You know, it can be done better
So here it is then
Now I'm wearing my boots which always guarantees a good showing
[Intro]
 D6   D   Em   Em7   G   A7   D(x2)
[Verse]
Dyou must try to lead a gEm7ood life
you must dGo unto A7others
as yDou would have them do
so that when you die
you'll find gEm7olden boy peanuts
Gwaiting A7in the afterlife for youD  
[Chorus]
there are no pan-Asian supermarkets
Em7down in hell
so you cGan't buy A7golden boy peDanuts
there are no pan-Asian supermarkets
Em7down in hell
so you cGan't buy A7golden boy peDanuts
[Interlude]
D6 D Em Em7 G A7 D
[Verse]
Dif thine enemy opEm7presseth you
you must Glet A7him oppress you some Dmore
so that when you go shopping in Em7paradise
you'll find Gthose A7magnificent peanuts from SDingapore
with the drGawing of the
young Chinese fDarmer
Em7eastern sun behind him
smiling at Dyou from the shelves
if we want to spend eternity in hEm7appiness
we arGe going to have to wA7atch ourselvesD  
you must give to the MEm7arch of Dimes
Gyou must be on guard against A7wickedness
at Dall times and you will find that your efforts
have bEm7rought you great joy when your
spGirit is mA7unching on that goDlden boy
[Chorus]
there are no pan-Asian supermarkets Em7down in hell
so you Gcan't bA7uy golden boy pDeanuts there
but the streets of heaven are Em7lined with shelves
and there's Gbillboards of the A7golden boy Deverywhere
there are no pan-Asian supermarkets Em7down in hell
so you Gcan't buy A7golden boy Dpeanuts
there are no pan-Asian supermarkets Em7down in hell
so you Gcan't buy A7golden boy Dpeanuts... GO!
[Outro]
 D6   D   Em   Em7   G   A7   D(x2)

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

"Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats seems to capture a moment of childhood desire and the strict rules that sometimes govern it. It speaks to the idea of a child wanting something simple, like "golden boy peanuts," but being told they "can't buy" them, perhaps as a consequence for not leading a "good life." This playful yet poignant look at discipline and longing appeared on the album Object Lessons - Songs About Products. It's a snapshot of youthful temptation, where a small treat becomes a symbol of earned privilege.

AI-written from these sources:The Mountain Goats — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Golden Boy

Golden Boy

🎸 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

Golden Boy

by The Mountain Goats

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

D6: xx0202

[Spoken]

Hello there Paul

I had a take and I was ready to send it and I thought

You know, it can be done better

So here it is then

Now I'm wearing my boots which always guarantees a good showing

[Intro]

D6 D Em Em7 G A7 D

(x2)

[Verse]

D Em7

you must try to lead a good life

G A7

you must do unto others

as you would have them do

so that when you die

Em7

you'll find golden boy peanuts

G A7 D

waiting in the afterlife for you

[Chorus]

there are no pan-Asian supermarkets

Em7

down in hell

G A7 D

so you can't buy golden boy peanuts

there are no pan-Asian supermarkets

Em7

down in hell

G A7 D

so you can't buy golden boy peanuts

[Interlude]

D6 D Em Em7 G A7 D

[Verse]

D Em7

if thine enemy oppresseth you

G A7 D

you must let him oppress you some more

Em7

so that when you go shopping in paradise

G A7 D

you'll find those magnificent peanuts from Singapore

with the drawing of the

young Chinese farmer

Em7

eastern sun behind him

smiling at you from the shelves

Em7

if we want to spend eternity in happiness

G A7 D

we are going to have to watch ourselves

Em7

you must give to the March of Dimes

G A7

you must be on guard against wickedness

at all times and you will find that your efforts

Em7

have brought you great joy when your

G A7 D

spirit is munching on that golden boy

[Chorus]

Em7

there are no pan-Asian supermarkets down in hell

G A7 D

so you can't buy golden boy peanuts there

Em7

but the streets of heaven are lined with shelves

G A7 D

and there's billboards of the golden boy everywhere

Em7

there are no pan-Asian supermarkets down in hell

G A7 D

so you can't buy golden boy peanuts

Em7

there are no pan-Asian supermarkets down in hell

G A7 D

so you can't buy golden boy peanuts... GO!

[Outro]

D6 D Em Em7 G A7 D

(x2)

About Golden Boy Chords by The Mountain Goats

Learn how to play Golden Boy by The Mountain Goats with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Golden Boy chords”, “Golden Boy guitar chords”, or “The Mountain Goats Golden Boy 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 Golden Boy chords and for experienced players who want accurate Golden Boy lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D6, D, Em, Em7, G, A7.

FAQ — Golden Boy by The Mountain Goats

How do I play "Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats 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 "Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats free?

Yes. The chords for "Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Golden Boy" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Golden Boy"?

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

Is "Golden Boy" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Golden Boy" by The Mountain Goats with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Mountain Goats below.

What key is "Golden Boy" in?

The chords for "Golden Boy" show the original chord names (including D6, D, Em, Em7, G, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.