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Papa Was A Rodeo

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Magnetic Fields
Papa Was a Rodeo
69 Love Songs
[Verse 1]
GI like your G/F#twisted point of Emview, Mike  Em7  
CI like your C/Bquestioning eyebrAm7ows D  
GYou've made it G/F#pretty clear what Emyou like Em7  
CIt's only C/Bfair to tell you Am7now  D  
[Verse 2]
Emthat I leave Em7early in the Cmorning C/B  
Am7and I won't be back till Dnext year  Dsus  D  
EmI see that Em7kiss-me pucker Cforming  C/B  
Am7but maybe you should plug it with a Dbeer, Dsuscause D  
[Chorus]
GPapa was a G/F#rodeo - CMama was a rock'n'roll Gband                
I could Gplay guitar and G/F#rope a steer Cbefore I learned to sDtand  
GHome was anywhere with G/F#diesel gas - CLove was a trucker's hGand  
GNever stuck around G/F#long enough for a Cone night Dstand 
Am7Before you kiss me you should Gknow 
CPapa Dwas a rodeGo 
[Bridge]
G G/F# Em Em7 C D Dsus D
[Verse 3]
GThe light reG/F#flecting off the Emmirror ball Em7  
Clooks like a C/Bthousand swirlinAm7g eyes D  
GThey make me thG/F#ink I shouldn't be Emhere at Em7all 
CYou know, C/Bevery minute someAm7one dieDs 
[Verse 4]
EmWhat are we dEm7oing in this Cdive bar C/B  
Am7How can you live in a place like DthDsusis D  
EmWhy don't you Em7just get into Cmy car C/B  
Am7and I'll take you away I'll take that kDiss Dsusnow, bDut 
[Chorus]
GPapa was a G/F#rodeo - CMama was a rock'n'roll Gband                
I could Gplay guitar and G/F#rope a steer Cbefore I learned to sDtand  
GHome was anywhere with G/F#diesel gas - CLove was a trucker's hGand  
GNever stuck around G/F#long enough for a Cone night Dstand 
Am7Before you kiss me you should Gknow 
CPapa Dwas a rodeGo 
[Bridge]
 G   G/F#   Em   Em7   C   D   Dsus     Dx2
[Verse 5]
EmAnd now iEm7t's 55 years Clater C/B  
Am7We've had the romance of the DcenturDsusy D  
EmAfter all tEm7hese years wrestlinCg gatorC/Bs 
Am7I still feel like crying when I think oDf what you Dsussaid to mDe 
[Chorus]
GPapa was a G/F#rodeo - CMama was a rock'n'roll Gband                
I could Gplay guitar and G/F#rope a steer Cbefore I learned to sDtand  
GHome was anywhere with G/F#diesel gas - CLove was a trucker's hGand  
GNever stuck around G/F#long enough for a Cone night Dstand 
Am7Before you kiss me you should Gknow 
CPapa Dwas a rodeGo 
[Outro]
Em7What a coiDncidence, your PCapa was a Drodeo Gtoo.
G G/F# Em Em7 C D Dsus D

All chords in this song (9)

The story behind the song

This song playfully explores the idea of shared experience, even when those experiences are a bit unusual. It imagines a connection between two people who discover that their fathers both had a wild, untamed spirit, like a "rodeo" itself. The lyrics hint at a charmingly "twisted point of view" between them, suggesting a bond over their unique pasts and perhaps a burgeoning affection. It's a sweet, quirky tune from The Magnetic Fields' acclaimed album 69 Love Songs, capturing that spark of recognition when you find someone who truly understands your world.

AI-written from these sources:The Magnetic Fields — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Papa Was A Rodeo

Papa Was A Rodeo

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Papa Was A Rodeo

by The Magnetic Fields

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G/F#

Em7

C/B

Am7

Dsus

Magnetic Fields

Papa Was a Rodeo

69 Love Songs

[Verse 1]

G G/F# Em Em7

I like your twisted point of view, Mike

C C/B Am7 D

I like your questioning eyebrows

G G/F# Em Em7

You've made it pretty clear what you like

C C/B Am7 D

It's only fair to tell you now

[Verse 2]

Em Em7 C C/B

that I leave early in the morning

Am7 D Dsus D

and I won't be back till next year

Em Em7 C C/B

I see that kiss-me pucker forming

Am7 D Dsus D

but maybe you should plug it with a beer, cause

[Chorus]

G G/F# C G

Papa was a rodeo - Mama was a rock'n'roll band

G G/F# C D

I could play guitar and rope a steer before I learned to stand

G G/F# C G

Home was anywhere with diesel gas - Love was a trucker's hand

G G/F# C D

Never stuck around long enough for a one night stand

Am7 G

Before you kiss me you should know

C D G

Papa was a rodeo

[Bridge]

G G/F# Em Em7 C D Dsus D

[Verse 3]

G G/F# Em Em7

The light reflecting off the mirror ball

C C/B Am7 D

looks like a thousand swirling eyes

G G/F# Em Em7

They make me think I shouldn't be here at all

C C/B Am7 D

You know, every minute someone dies

[Verse 4]

Em Em7 C C/B

What are we doing in this dive bar

Am7 D Dsus D

How can you live in a place like this

Em Em7 C C/B

Why don't you just get into my car

Am7 D Dsus D

and I'll take you away I'll take that kiss now, but

[Chorus]

G G/F# C G

Papa was a rodeo - Mama was a rock'n'roll band

G G/F# C D

I could play guitar and rope a steer before I learned to stand

G G/F# C G

Home was anywhere with diesel gas - Love was a trucker's hand

G G/F# C D

Never stuck around long enough for a one night stand

Am7 G

Before you kiss me you should know

C D G

Papa was a rodeo

[Bridge]

G G/F# Em Em7 C D Dsus D

[Verse 5]

Em Em7 C C/B

And now it's 55 years later

Am7 D Dsus D

We've had the romance of the century

Em Em7 C C/B

After all these years wrestling gators

Am7 D Dsus D

I still feel like crying when I think of what you said to me

[Chorus]

G G/F# C G

Papa was a rodeo - Mama was a rock'n'roll band

G G/F# C D

I could play guitar and rope a steer before I learned to stand

G G/F# C G

Home was anywhere with diesel gas - Love was a trucker's hand

G G/F# C D

Never stuck around long enough for a one night stand

Am7 G

Before you kiss me you should know

C D G

Papa was a rodeo

[Outro]

Em7 D C D G

What a coincidence, your Papa was a rodeo too.

G G/F# Em Em7 C D Dsus D

About Papa Was A Rodeo Chords by The Magnetic Fields

Learn how to play Papa Was A Rodeo by The Magnetic Fields with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Papa Was A Rodeo chords”, “Papa Was A Rodeo guitar chords”, or “The Magnetic Fields Papa Was A Rodeo 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 Papa Was A Rodeo chords and for experienced players who want accurate Papa Was A Rodeo lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, G/F#, Em, Em7, C, C/B.

FAQ — Papa Was A Rodeo by The Magnetic Fields

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The chords for "Papa Was A Rodeo" show the original chord names (including G, G/F#, Em, Em7, C, C/B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.