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Telegraph Road

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
(Resonator guitar)
|  Dm7|     Bb|  Gm7|  Gm7|    
|   Dm|  Cadd9|   Am|   Dm| 
|   Dm|     Dm|   Dm|   Dm|
|   Dm|     Dm|   Dm|
(Piano)
|  D5|  Dm7|  G/D|  D|
|  D5|  Dm7|  G/D|  D|
(Piano and electric guitar)
|  D5|   Dm7|    G/D|  D|
|  D5|   F   C|      G|  D|
|  D5|  Gm/D|  Csus4|  C|
[Verse 1]
A Flong time ago came a Dmman on a track
Cwalking thirty miles with a Bbsack on his back
and he Bbput down his load whCere he thFought it was the bCest
BbHe made a home in the wildGm7ernessBb  
FHe built a cabin and a wDminter store
and he Cploughed up the ground by the cBbold lake shore
Bband the other Ctravellers came rFiding down the tCrack
and they Bbnever went further and they Gm7never went backBb  
FThen came the churches tDmhen came the schools
Cthen came the lawyers Bbthen came the rules
BbThen came the tCrains and the trFucks with their lCoads
                                           Bb(D5) 
and the dirty old track   was the telegraph road
[Interlude]
|  D5|   Dm7|    G/D|  D|
|  D5|   F   C|      G|  D|
|  D5|  Gm/D|  Csus4|  C|
[Verse 2]
FThen came the mines - Dmthen came the ore
Cthen there was the hard times Bbthen there was a war
BbTelegraph sang a Csong aFbout the world outCside
Bbtelegraph road got so Gm7deep and so wideBb  
              Bb(F)
like a rolling river. . .
[Solo]
|  F|  Dm|  C|  Bb|  Bb   C|  F   C|  Bb|  Gm|  Gm   B|
|  F|  Dm|  C|  Bb|  Bb   C|  F   C|  Bb|  Gm|  Gm   B|
|  F|  Dm|  C|  Bb|  Bb   C|  F   C|  Bb|  Bb| 
[Interlude]
|  Dm|   Dm7|  G|  D|
|  Dm|   F   C|  G| 
[Bridge]
   DAnd my rGmadio says tonigGmht it's gonna freeze
DmPeople driving home from the fDmactories
There's sCix lanes of traffic
   AmThree lanes moving sDmlow. . .C  
[Piano solo]
|  Dm|  A7#5   A7|  Bb   Em7b5|  C   F|  Gm   C|  Fsus4   F|  Gm   F/A|     Bb|
[Guitar solo]
|  Dm|  A7#5   A7|  Bb   Em7b5|  C   F|  Gm   C|  Fsus4   F|  Gm   F/A|  Bb   A7|
|  Dm|  A7#5   A7|  Bb   Em7b5|  C   F|  Gm   C|  Fsus4   F|  Gm   F/A|  Bb   A7|
[Piano solo]
|  Dm|  A/D|  Bb   Em7b5|  Em7b5   F|  Bb   C|  Bb      F|  Gm   F/A|  Bb   A7|
|  Dm|  Dm|   C|  
[Verse 3]
   CI used to Flike to go to work but they Dmshut it down
I've got a rCight to go to work but there's no wBbork here to be found
Yes and they sBbay we're goCnna have to pFay what's oCwed
We're gBbonna have to reap from sGm7eed that's been sowedBb  
And the bFirds up on the wires and the tDmelegraph poles
They can Calways fly away from this rBbain and this cold
You can Bbhear them sCinging out their tFelegraph Ccode
all the wBbay down the telegraph roadDm  
[Interlude]
|  D5|   Dm7|    G/D|  D|
|  D5|   F   C|      G|  D|
|  D5|   Dm7|    G/D|  D|
|  D5|   F   C|      G|  D|
[Verse 4]
(D)                              Dm  Dm  
You know I'd sooner forget but I remember those nights
When lCife was just a bet on a race    Bbbetween the lights
You had your hBbead on my shCoulder, you had your hFand in my hCair
Now you Bbact a little colder like you dGm7on't seem to care
   BbBut beFlieve in me baby and I'll Dmtake you away
From oCut of this darkness and Bbinto the day
From these rBbivers of headliCghts, these rFivers of rCainF  
From the Bbanger that lives on Cthe Fstreets with these CnamesF  
'Ccos I've rBbun every red light Con meFmory lCaneF  
I've sBbeen desperation  CexFplode into flCamesF  
   BbAnd I don't wCanna Fsee it aCgain. . .
From Amall of these signs saying sDmorry but we're closed
all the wBbay                  F   Bbdown the telegraph road
[Solo]
|  D5|  Dm7|  G/D|  D|  D5|  F   C|   G|  D| x6
|  Dm|    F|    G|  D|  Dm|  F   C|   G|  D| x13 
(Fade out)

All chords in this song (22)

The story behind the song

This song was inspired by a journey down Telegraph Road in Michigan, combined with reading a novel about the development of the land. It tells a story of the changes that occur over decades, charting the beginning of development along the road and how things evolve over time. Released as the opening track on the 1982 album Love over Gold, the song captures a sense of history unfolding in a specific place. Playing it can feel like embodying the passage of time and the transformation of a landscape.

AI-written from these sources:Telegraph Road (song) — Wikipedia ↗Dire Straits — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Telegraph Road

by Dire Straits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dm7

Gm7

Cadd9

G/D

Gm/D

Csus4

A7#5

Em7b5

Fsus4

F/A

A/D

[Intro]

(Resonator guitar)

Dm7 Bb Gm7 Gm7

| | | | |

Dm Cadd9 Am Dm

| | | | |

Dm Dm Dm Dm

| | | | |

Dm Dm Dm

| | | |

(Piano)

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

(Piano and electric guitar)

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

D5 F C G D

| | | | |

D5 Gm/D Csus4 C

| | | | |

[Verse 1]

F Dm

A long time ago came a man on a track

C Bb

walking thirty miles with a sack on his back

Bb C F C

and he put down his load where he thought it was the best

Bb Gm7 Bb

He made a home in the wilderness

F Dm

He built a cabin and a winter store

C Bb

and he ploughed up the ground by the cold lake shore

Bb C F C

and the other travellers came riding down the track

Bb Gm7 Bb

and they never went further and they never went back

F Dm

Then came the churches then came the schools

C Bb

then came the lawyers then came the rules

Bb C F C

Then came the trains and the trucks with their loads

Bb D5

()

and the dirty old track was the telegraph road

[Interlude]

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

D5 F C G D

| | | | |

D5 Gm/D Csus4 C

| | | | |

[Verse 2]

F Dm

Then came the mines - then came the ore

C Bb

then there was the hard times then there was a war

Bb C F C

Telegraph sang a song about the world outside

Bb Gm7 Bb

telegraph road got so deep and so wide

Bb F

()

like a rolling river. . .

[Solo]

F Dm C Bb Bb C F C Bb Gm Gm B

| | | | | | | | | |

F Dm C Bb Bb C F C Bb Gm Gm B

| | | | | | | | | |

F Dm C Bb Bb C F C Bb Bb

| | | | | | | | |

[Interlude]

Dm Dm7 G D

| | | | |

Dm F C G

| | | |

[Bridge]

D Gm Gm

And my radio says tonight it's gonna freeze

Dm Dm

People driving home from the factories

There's six lanes of traffic

Am Dm C

Three lanes moving slow. . .

[Piano solo]

Dm A7#5 A7 Bb Em7b5 C F Gm C Fsus4 F Gm F/A Bb

| | | | | | | | |

[Guitar solo]

Dm A7#5 A7 Bb Em7b5 C F Gm C Fsus4 F Gm F/A Bb A7

| | | | | | | | |

Dm A7#5 A7 Bb Em7b5 C F Gm C Fsus4 F Gm F/A Bb A7

| | | | | | | | |

[Piano solo]

Dm A/D Bb Em7b5 Em7b5 F Bb C Bb F Gm F/A Bb A7

| | | | | | | | |

Dm Dm C

| | | |

[Verse 3]

C F Dm

I used to like to go to work but they shut it down

C Bb

I've got a right to go to work but there's no work here to be found

Bb C F C

Yes and they say we're gonna have to pay what's owed

Bb Gm7 Bb

We're gonna have to reap from seed that's been sowed

F Dm

And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles

C Bb

They can always fly away from this rain and this cold

Bb C F C

You can hear them singing out their telegraph code

Bb Dm

all the way down the telegraph road

[Interlude]

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

D5 F C G D

| | | | |

D5 Dm7 G/D D

| | | | |

D5 F C G D

| | | | |

[Verse 4]

D Dm Dm

()

You know I'd sooner forget but I remember those nights

C Bb

When life was just a bet on a race between the lights

Bb C F C

You had your head on my shoulder, you had your hand in my hair

Bb Gm7

Now you act a little colder like you don't seem to care

Bb F Dm

But believe in me baby and I'll take you away

C Bb

From out of this darkness and into the day

Bb C F C F

From these rivers of headlights, these rivers of rain

Bb C F C F

From the anger that lives on the streets with these names

Bb C F C F

'Ccos I've run every red light on memory lane

Bb C F C F

I've seen desperation explode into flames

Bb C F C

And I don't wanna see it again. . .

Am Dm

From all of these signs saying sorry but we're closed

Bb F Bb

all the way down the telegraph road

[Solo]

D5 Dm7 G/D D D5 F C G D

| | | | | | | | | x6

Dm F G D Dm F C G D

| | | | | | | | | x13

(Fade out)

About Telegraph Road Chords by Dire Straits

Learn how to play Telegraph Road by Dire Straits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Telegraph Road chords”, “Telegraph Road guitar chords”, or “Dire Straits Telegraph Road 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 Telegraph Road chords and for experienced players who want accurate Telegraph Road lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm7, Bb, Gm7, Dm, Cadd9, Am.

FAQ — Telegraph Road by Dire Straits

How do I play "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits 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 "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits free?

Yes. The chords for "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Telegraph Road" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Telegraph Road"?

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

Is "Telegraph Road" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Dire Straits below.

What key is "Telegraph Road" in?

The chords for "Telegraph Road" show the original chord names (including Dm7, Bb, Gm7, Dm, Cadd9, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.