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American Dream

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90BPM

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1/3

Tempo 80 BPMVol

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Position

Step 1 / 3Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

American Dream - Hayes Carll
Track 6 - What it Is (2019)
---------------------------------------------------------
Standard Tuning; Capo 4th fret
What I'm calling an F# 'chord' is just a transition between the G and Em:
e|--G3---F#----Em-----|
B|--3------------|
G|---------------|
D|----------2----|
A|--2---0---2----|
E|--3---2--------|
[Intro]
 G   Em   C   G(2x)
[Verse 1]
GI lit the Emfire, pCoured out the Gbottle
GAsked the Emmoonlight Cwhat it might have Dseen
EmIf it aBmnswered, CI can't remDember
I fell Gdown F#in Emto Dthe CAmerican GDream
[Verse 2]
GBeen too lEmong Cin the Devil's Gworkshop
GSo I'm driving the Embackbone to Cchange the sceDnery
EmHere come the Bmhorses thCrough purgaDtory
They fell Gdown F#in Emto tDhe ACmerican DGream
[Chorus]
DSummer time sunshine, Cshine on Gme
CShow me Gwhere I'm Dgoing
[Verse 3]
GI'll find an Emold friend Cin El DoGrado
GLike Harry Dean EmStanton on a Cdrive-in sDcreen
EmA tumbleweed Bmblowing Cthrough Paris, DTexas
He fell Gdown F#in Emto Dthe ACmerican GDream
[Instrumental]
 G   F#   Em   D   C(x4)
[Verse 4]
GSun-bleached Emdresses Cwavin' from a cGlothesline
GCome Saturday Emevening, they'll Chave a place to Dbe
EmI'll pick some Bmflowers to Ctake to her DMama
I fell Gdown F#in Emto Dthe ACmerican GDream
[Chorus]
DSummer time sunshine, Cshine on Gme
Won't you Cshow me Gwhere I'm Dgoin'?
DLeaving San Francisco for CNew OrGleans
I can Chear that rGooster cDrowin'
[Verse 4]
GSpit and pEmolish tChe ancient stoGry
GLove and gEmlory, gCold and Dgreed
EmNothing Bmchanges, Ceven if it Dwants to
We go dGown F#in Emto Dthe ACmerican GDream
[Outro]
 G   F#   Em   D   C(x4)
GWe go F#doEmwn.D....C.....baby
GOn doF#wn Emto     D    CNew Orleans
GDown.F#...Em...D....C.....baby
GOnly F#finEmdinDg whCat it means
 G   F#   Em   D   C(6x)

All chords in this song (6)

Open

32OOO3

Major chord - Happy, bright sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

G major

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

American Dream

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American Dream

by Hayes Carll

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

American Dream - Hayes Carll

Track 6 - What it Is (2019)

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

Standard Tuning; Capo 4th fret

What I'm calling an F# 'chord' is just a transition between the G and Em:

G F# Em

e|--3------------|

B|--3------------|

G|---------------|

D|----------2----|

A|--2---0---2----|

E|--3---2--------|

[Intro]

G Em C G

(2x)

[Verse 1]

G Em C G

I lit the fire, poured out the bottle

G Em C D

Asked the moonlight what it might have seen

Em Bm C D

If it answered, I can't remember

G F# Em D C G

I fell down in to the American Dream

[Verse 2]

G Em C G

Been too long in the Devil's workshop

G Em C D

So I'm driving the backbone to change the scenery

Em Bm C D

Here come the horses through purgatory

G F# Em D C G

They fell down in to the American Dream

[Chorus]

D C G

Summer time sunshine, shine on me

C G D

Show me where I'm going

[Verse 3]

G Em C G

I'll find an old friend in El Dorado

G Em C D

Like Harry Dean Stanton on a drive-in screen

Em Bm C D

A tumbleweed blowing through Paris, Texas

G F# Em D C G

He fell down in to the American Dream

[Instrumental]

G F# Em D C

(x4)

[Verse 4]

G Em C G

Sun-bleached dresses wavin' from a clothesline

G Em C D

Come Saturday evening, they'll have a place to be

Em Bm C D

I'll pick some flowers to take to her Mama

G F# Em D C G

I fell down in to the American Dream

[Chorus]

D C G

Summer time sunshine, shine on me

C G D

Won't you show me where I'm goin'?

D C G

Leaving San Francisco for New Orleans

C G D

I can hear that rooster crowin'

[Verse 4]

G Em C G

Spit and polish the ancient story

G Em C D

Love and glory, gold and greed

Em Bm C D

Nothing changes, even if it wants to

G F# Em D C G

We go down in to the American Dream

[Outro]

G F# Em D C

(x4)

G F# Em D C

We go down..........baby

G F# Em D C

On down to New Orleans

G F# Em D C

Down................baby

G F# Em D C

Only finding what it means

G F# Em D C

(6x)

About American Dream Chords by Hayes Carll

Learn how to play American Dream by Hayes Carll with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “American Dream chords”, “American Dream guitar chords”, or “Hayes Carll American Dream 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 American Dream chords and for experienced players who want accurate American Dream lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, G, Em, F#, B, D.

FAQ — American Dream by Hayes Carll

How do I play "American Dream" by Hayes Carll on guitar?

Open the free chords for "American Dream" by Hayes Carll 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 "American Dream" by Hayes Carll free?

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Can I transpose "American Dream" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "American Dream"?

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

Is "American Dream" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "American Dream" by Hayes Carll with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Hayes Carll below.

What key is "American Dream" in?

The chords for "American Dream" show the original chord names (including F, G, Em, F#, B, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.