The Bottomless Lake

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[Intro]
C G D G
C G D G
[Verse]
G
Here's the story of a man and his family
D G
And a big trip that they took
Well, I heard all about in a restaurant
A7 D
And I read it in a history book
C G
They rented a car at the Erie Canal
C
But the car didn't have no brake
G
Said Ma to Pa "My God this car"
D G
"Is gonna fall into the Bottomless Lake"
[Instrumental]
C G D G
G
Well, Mama turned to Daddy with a pale face
D G
Said "I've done something horribly wrong"
"Well, the waters still runnin' in the bathtub"
A7 D
And I think I left the kitchen light on"
C G
Then I heard a crash the car when splash
C
And the compass rolled around and around
G
Oh, for Heaven's Sake! We fell in a lake
D G
And I think we're all gonna drown
[Chorus]
D
We are falling down
G
Down to the bottom of a hole in the ground
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
C G
I'm so scared I can hardly breathe
D G
I may never see my sweetheart again
[Instrumental]
C G D G
G
There was plenty of food in the backseat
D G
And the windows were rolled up tight
So we all nibbled on a chicken leg
A7 D
Told stories 'way thru' the night
C G
Well, Pa told one that he told before
C
And the baby got a bellyache
G
Said Ma to Pa "My God this car"
D G
"Falling down a Bottomless Lake"
[Chorus]
D
We are falling down
G
Down to the bottom of a hole in the ground
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
C G
I'm so scared I can hardly breathe
D G
I may never see my sweetheart again
[Instrumental]
C G D G
C G D G
G
Poppa played the music on the radio
D G
Mama rocked the baby to sleep
He said he would've taken the other road
A7 D
But he didn't think the lake was that deep
C G
Well, if the ferry been there at the end of the pier
C
We'd be half way to Uncle Jake's
G
Instead of looking at fish out the window I wish
D G
We'd hit the bottom of the Bottomless Lake
C G
'Stead of looking at fish out the window I wish
D G
We'd hit the bottom of the Bottomless Lake
[Chorus]
D
We are falling down
G
Down to the bottom of a hole in the ground
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
C G
I'm so scared I can hardly breathe
D G
I may never see my sweetheart again
[Instrumental]
C G D G
C G D G
G
So if you're ever goin' on a big trip
D G
Ya better be careful out there
Start everything on your good foot
A7 D
And wear clean underwear
C G
Take along a Bible in the backseat
C
Read of David and of Solomon
G
For if you make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake
D G
You may never see your sweetheart again
C G
If you should make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake
D G
You may never see your sweetheart again
C G
If you should make a mistake in the Bottomless Lake
D G
You may never see your sweetheart again
[Outro]
C G D G
C G D G D G

The Bottomless Lake chords and lyrics

Free chords for The Bottomless Lake by John Prine. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]
C G D G
C G D G
[Verse]
Well, I heard all about in a restaurant
[Instrumental]
C G D G
"Well, the waters still runnin' in the bathtub"
[Chorus]
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
[Instrumental]
C G D G
So we all nibbled on a chicken leg
[Chorus]
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
[Instrumental]
C G D G
C G D G
He said he would've taken the other road
[Chorus]
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
[Instrumental]
C G D G
C G D G
Start everything on your good foot
[Outro]
C G D G
C G D G D G

The Bottomless Lake Chords by John Prine

Learn how to play The Bottomless Lake by John Prine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Bottomless Lake chords”, “The Bottomless Lake guitar chords”, or “John Prine The Bottomless Lake 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 The Bottomless Lake chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Bottomless Lake lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, D, A7.

Frequently asked questions about The Bottomless Lake

How do I play "The Bottomless Lake" by John Prine on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Bottomless Lake" by John Prine 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 "The Bottomless Lake" by John Prine free?

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Can I transpose "The Bottomless Lake" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Bottomless Lake"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Bottomless Lake" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Bottomless Lake" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Bottomless Lake" by John Prine with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by John Prine below.

What key is "The Bottomless Lake" in?

The chords for "The Bottomless Lake" show the original chord names (including C, G, D, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.