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Simple Man

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4.91,582 votes

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[Verse 1]
Well, MCama told me,  Gwhen I was yAmoung.
Come sCit beside me,  my Gonly son.Am  
And lisCten closely,   Gto what I Amsay.
And if yCou do this, it'll Ghelp you, some Amsunny day.
Oh yeah!
[Verse 2]
Oh, take your Ctime,  Gdon't live Amtoo fast.
Troubles will Ccome,  Gand they will Ampass.
Go find a Cwoman, and Gyou'll find Amlove.
And don't forCget son, there is Gsomeone up Amabove.
[Chorus]
And be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, be Csomething,  Gyou love and undersAmtand.
Baby, be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, won't you Cdo this for me Gson, if you cAman?
[Verse 3]
Forget Cyour lust,  Gfor rich man's gAmold,
All thCat you need,  Gis in your soAmul.
And yoCu can do this, oGh baby,  if you Amtry.
All thCat I want for you my Gson, is to be satisfAmied.
[Chorus]
And be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, be Csomething,  Gyou love and undersAmtand.
Baby, be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, won't you Cdo this for me Gson, if you cAman?
Oh yes, I will.
[Verse 4]
Boy, don't Cyou worry,  Gyou'll find yoursAmelf.
Follow Cyour heart,  Gand nothing eAmlse.
You can Cdo this,  oh babGy,  if you tAmry.
All that CI want for you my soGn, is to be satisfAmied.
[Chorus]
And be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, be Csomething,  Gyou love and undersAmtand.
Baby, be a Csimple  Gkind of Amman.
Oh, won't you Cdo this for me Gson, if you cAman?
Baby, be a simple, be a simple man

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

"Simple Man" is a heartfelt song that offers guidance on living a meaningful life, inspired by the passing of Ronnie Van Zant's grandmother. The lyrics portray a mother imparting wisdom to her child, encouraging them to find happiness, love, and contentment. The song begins with a gentle arpeggiated guitar sequence that sets a reflective tone before the full band and vocals join in. It's a musical conversation about life's simple truths.

AI-written from these sources:Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd song) — Wikipedia ↗Lynyrd Skynyrd — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

Simple Man

by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

C G Am

Well, Mama told me, when I was young.

C G Am

Come sit beside me, my only son.

C G Am

And listen closely, to what I say.

C G Am

And if you do this, it'll help you, some sunny day.

Oh yeah!

[Verse 2]

C G Am

Oh, take your time, don't live too fast.

C G Am

Troubles will come, and they will pass.

C G Am

Go find a woman, and you'll find love.

C G Am

And don't forget son, there is someone up above.

[Chorus]

C G Am

And be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, be something, you love and understand.

C G Am

Baby, be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?

[Verse 3]

C G Am

Forget your lust, for rich man's gold,

C G Am

All that you need, is in your soul.

C G Am

And you can do this, oh baby, if you try.

C G Am

All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied.

[Chorus]

C G Am

And be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, be something, you love and understand.

C G Am

Baby, be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?

Oh yes, I will.

[Verse 4]

C G Am

Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself.

C G Am

Follow your heart, and nothing else.

C G Am

You can do this, oh baby, if you try.

C G Am

All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied.

[Chorus]

C G Am

And be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, be something, you love and understand.

C G Am

Baby, be a simple kind of man.

C G Am

Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?

Baby, be a simple, be a simple man

About Simple Man Chords by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Learn how to play Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Simple Man chords”, “Simple Man guitar chords”, or “Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man 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 Simple Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate Simple Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, Am.

FAQ — Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

How do I play "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd 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 "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd free?

Yes. The chords for "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Simple Man" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Simple Man"?

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

Is "Simple Man" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd below.

What key is "Simple Man" in?

The chords for "Simple Man" show the original chord names (including C, G, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.