Whistlin Past The Graveyard

Chords4.813 votes
15
Original
Guitar Tablature
1/51
Sound:
123456789101112131415eBGDAE11234
Step 1 / 51Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
(Guitar)
[Verse]
           Bm
e|-------------|
B|----------3--|
G|----------4--|
D|----------4--|  (Repeat this pattern 7 times, one for each lyric line)
A|--------2-2--|
E|2-5-2-5------|

(and on the 8th time it goes up to the Chorus like so)
e|----------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|--------------------2-2-----|
A|--------2-2-4-4-5-5---------|
E|2-5-2-5---------------------|

[Chorus]
   G7               F#7                G7               F#7
e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------2-----------------1-----------------2----------------|
A|-----2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--4-4-1------2-2-5--5-5-2------1-1-4--|
E|-3-3---------------2-2---------------3-3---------------2-2--------|

(And back to the Bm verse pattern shown above)

(All this fits beautifully with this Bass pattern)

[Verse]
G|-----4--4-----------|
D|----------4--4------|
A|-2-------------5--5-|
E|--------------------|

[Chorus]
   G7                    F#7
G|---------------------|---------------------|
D|-5--5----------------|---------------------|
A|------5--5-2--2------|-----------1--1------|
E|----------------3--3-|-2--2-4--4------2--2-|

   G7                     F#7            Bm (back to pattern)
G|------------------♫---|--------------------------------|
D|----------------5-23--|-4--4---------------------------|
A|------2--2-5--5-------|------4--4--------0---0---2-----|
E|-3--3-----------------|-----------2----2---2-----------|

[Verse 1]
Bm                                    Bm
    Well I come in on a night train       With an arm full of box cars
Bm                                    Bm
    On the wings of a magpie              Cross a hooligan night
Bm                                    Bm
    And I busted up a chifforobe          Way out by the cocomo
Bm                                    Bm
   Cooked up a mess a mulligan            And got into a fight

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 2]
Bm                                    Bm
    You've probably seen me sleepin     Out by the railroad tracks
Bm                                        Bm
    Go on and ask the prince of darkness    What about all that smoke come from the stack
Bm                                    Bm
    Sometimes I kill myself a jackal    suck out all the blood
Bm                                    Bm
    Steal myself a station wagon        Drive it through the mud

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 3]
Bm                                    Bm
    I know you seen my headlights       And the honkin' of my horn
Bm                                    Bm
    I'm callin' out my bloodhounds      Chase the devil through the corn
Bm                                       Bm
    Last night I chugged the Mississippi    Now that sucker's dry as a bone
Bm                             Bm
    Born in a taxi cab     I'm never comin' home

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 4]
Bm                                    Bm
    My eyes have seen the glory         Of the draining of the ditch
Bm                                    Bm
    I only come to baton rouge          To find myself a witch
Bm                                            Bm
    I'm-ona snatch me up a couple of 'em         every time it rains
Bm                                    Bm
    You see a locomotive prob'ly      thinkin' it's a train

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 5]
Bm                                    Bm
    What you think is the sunshine      Is just a twinkle in my eye
Bm                                             Bm
    That ring around my fingers   it's just the 4th of July
Bm                                            Bm
    When I get a little bit lonesome    And a tear falls from my cheek
Bm                                    Bm
    There's gonna be an ocean in the mid - dle of the week

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

[Verse 6]
Bm                                    Bm
    I rode into town on a night train   with an arm full of box cars
Bm                                    Bm
    On the wings of a magpie            cross a hooligan night
Bm                                    Bm
    I'ma tear me off a rainbow  and wear it for a tie
Bm                                       Bm
    I never told the truth      so I can never tell a lie

[Chorus]
G7                               F#7
Whistlin' past the graveyard    Steppin on a crack
      G7                             F#7
I'm a mean motherhubbard        Papa one-eyed jack

Whistlin Past The Graveyard chords and lyrics

Free chords for Whistlin Past The Graveyard by Tom Waits. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

(And back to the Bm verse pattern shown above)
(All this fits beautifully with this Bass pattern)
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]
[Chorus]
[Verse 6]
[Chorus]

Whistlin Past The Graveyard Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play Whistlin Past The Graveyard by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Whistlin Past The Graveyard chords”, “Whistlin Past The Graveyard guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits Whistlin Past The Graveyard 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 Whistlin Past The Graveyard chords and for experienced players who want accurate Whistlin Past The Graveyard lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bm, B, G, D, A, E.

Frequently asked questions about Whistlin Past The Graveyard

How do I play "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits 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 "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits free?

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Can I transpose "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" in?

The chords for "Whistlin Past The Graveyard" show the original chord names (including Bm, B, G, D, A, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.