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Growing Trade

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Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

(intro)
D--7---7---7--------------7---7--7-9-
A--7h9---9-7--9-7---7-9---7h9---9----  F#m  E
E---------------7h9-----9------------
I worked the Aland to raise a Bmfamily
'Till I was Gweary to the Abone
F#mBut hard labour never Gbothered me
Lord, it's Dall I ever Aknown
Too many Aseasons of Bmcalamity
And too much Ginterest on the Aloan
F#mIt's half the size as it Gused to be
And Dhalf of Athat is EstoneEsus4  E  
EThe crops ain't worth a-Aseeding
Timber Donly Agets you EfireEsus4  E  
EThe live-stock I'm a-Afeeding
I can Dhardly Akeep 'em aElive
I gotta F#mdo what I Ecan to Dsurvive
(chorus)
I know the F#mlaw wont be forDgiving
But Athat'll be the choice I Emade
I used to Bmfarm for a Gliving
But Dnow I'm in the growing Atrade
(intro riff)
The summer Abeauty of the Bmcotton fields
Was like a Gview from heaven's Adoor
F#mMy grandaddy said that Gharvest time
Was what the Dgood lord made us Afor
I guess he'd Awonder where's the Bmdignity
In a Gcrop you raise to Aburn
F#mBut this land is my Glegacy
I got Dnowhere Aelse to EturnEsus4  E  
EShotgun on my Ashoulder
Where a Dtote sack Aoughta EbeEsus4  E  
EThe theives are getting Abolder
And the Dfeds may be Awatching Eme
I gotta F#mquit this EeventualDly
(chorus)
I know the F#mlaw wont be forDgiving
But Athat'll be the choice I Emade
I used to Bmfarm for a Gliving
But Dnow I'm in the growing AtradeAsus4  A  
HeliEcopters in the Adistance
Getting Dcloser Aevery Eday
EThey're gonna meet some resiAstance
Ain't no Dprice too Abig to Epay
EIt won't make any Adifference,
When they Dtake it Aall awEay,
EBetween the cot in the Ajailhouse
And a Dbed beneAath the cElay
I guess there's F#mnothing to Edo now but Dpray
(chorus)

All chords in this song (8)

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Growing Trade

by Levon Helm

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Esus4

Asus4

(intro)

D--7---7---7--------------7---7--7-9-

A--7h9---9-7--9-7---7-9---7h9---9---- F#m E

E---------------7h9-----9------------

A Bm

I worked the land to raise a family

G A

'Till I was weary to the bone

F#m G

But hard labour never bothered me

D A

Lord, it's all I ever known

A Bm

Too many seasons of calamity

G A

And too much interest on the loan

F#m G

It's half the size as it used to be

D A E Esus4 E

And half of that is stone

E A

The crops ain't worth a-seeding

D A E Esus4 E

Timber only gets you fire

E A

The live-stock I'm a-feeding

D A E

I can hardly keep 'em alive

F#m E D

I gotta do what I can to survive

(chorus)

F#m D

I know the law wont be forgiving

A E

But that'll be the choice I made

Bm G

I used to farm for a living

D A

But now I'm in the growing trade

(intro riff)

A Bm

The summer beauty of the cotton fields

G A

Was like a view from heaven's door

F#m G

My grandaddy said that harvest time

D A

Was what the good lord made us for

A Bm

I guess he'd wonder where's the dignity

G A

In a crop you raise to burn

F#m G

But this land is my legacy

D A E Esus4 E

I got nowhere else to turn

E A

Shotgun on my shoulder

D A E Esus4 E

Where a tote sack oughta be

E A

The theives are getting bolder

D A E

And the feds may be watching me

F#m E D

I gotta quit this eventually

(chorus)

F#m D

I know the law wont be forgiving

A E

But that'll be the choice I made

Bm G

I used to farm for a living

D A Asus4 A

But now I'm in the growing trade

E A

Helicopters in the distance

D A E

Getting closer every day

E A

They're gonna meet some resistance

D A E

Ain't no price too big to pay

E A

It won't make any difference,

D A E

When they take it all away,

E A

Between the cot in the jailhouse

D A E

And a bed beneath the clay

F#m E D

I guess there's nothing to do now but pray

(chorus)

About Growing Trade Chords by Levon Helm

Learn how to play Growing Trade by Levon Helm with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Growing Trade chords”, “Growing Trade guitar chords”, or “Levon Helm Growing Trade 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 Growing Trade chords and for experienced players who want accurate Growing Trade lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, F#m, E, Bm, G.

FAQ — Growing Trade by Levon Helm

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What key is "Growing Trade" in?

The chords for "Growing Trade" show the original chord names (including D, A, F#m, E, Bm, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.