I Never Picked Cotton

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[Intro]
E E E E
| | | | |
[Chorus]
E E
I never picked cotton
A E A E
Like my mother did and my brother did
A E A E
And my sister did and my daddy died young
B7 E E E
Working in a coal mine
[Verse 1]
F
When I was just a baby, too little for the cotton sack
F
I played in the dirt, while the others worked, til they couldn't straighten their backs
F#
And I made my self a promise, when I was old enough to run
F#
That I'd never stay, a single day, in that Oklahoma sun
[Chorus]
E E
And I never picked cotton
A E A E
Like my mother did and my brother did
A E A E
And my sister did and my daddy died young
B7 E E E
Working in a coal mine
[Verse 2]
F
Folks said that I grew up early and the farm couldn't hold me then
F
So I stole ten bucks and a pick up truck and I never went back again
F#
And it was fast cars and wiskey, long legged girls and fun
I had everything, that money could bring and I took it all with a gun
[Chorus]
E E
And I never picked cotton
A E A E
Like my mother did and my brother did
A E A E
And my sister did and my daddy died young
B7 E E E
Working in a coal mine
[Verse 3]
F
It was Saturday night in Memphis, when a redneck grabbed my shirt
F
And he said go back, to your cotton sack, I left him lyin in the dirt
F#
And they'll take me in the morning, to the gallows just outside
F#
And in the time I've got, their aint a hell of a lot, I can look back on with pride
[Chorus]
E E
But I never picked cotton
A E A E
Like my mother did and my brother did
A E A E
And my sister did and my daddy died young
B7 E E E
Working in a coal mine
[Chorus]
E E
I never picked cotton
A E A E
Like my mother did and my brother did
A E A E
And my sister did and my daddy died young
B7 E
Working in a coal mine
[Outro]
E E E E
| | | | |

I Never Picked Cotton chords and lyrics

Free chords for I Never Picked Cotton by Johnny Cash. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]
| E | E | E | E |
[Chorus] 
[Verse 1] 
[Chorus] 
[Verse 2] 
I had everything, that money could bring and I took it all with a gun
[Chorus] 
[Verse 3] 
[Chorus] 
[Chorus] 
[Outro]
| E | E | E | E |

I Never Picked Cotton Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play I Never Picked Cotton by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Never Picked Cotton chords”, “I Never Picked Cotton guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash I Never Picked Cotton 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 I Never Picked Cotton chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Never Picked Cotton lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A, B7, F, F#.

Frequently asked questions about I Never Picked Cotton

How do I play "I Never Picked Cotton" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

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Are the chords for "I Never Picked Cotton" by Johnny Cash free?

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Can I transpose "I Never Picked Cotton" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "I Never Picked Cotton" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "I Never Picked Cotton"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "I Never Picked Cotton" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "I Never Picked Cotton" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "I Never Picked Cotton" in?

The chords for "I Never Picked Cotton" show the original chord names (including E, A, B7, F, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.