Last Great American Whale

Chords4.919 votes
15
Original
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
Riff repeats all the way through.
[Verse 1]
D D A Asus A G G A
They say he didn't have an enemy
D D A Asus A G
His was a greatness to behold
D D A Asus A G G A
He was the last surviving progeny
D D A Asus A G
The last one on this side of the world
D D A Asus A G G A
He measured a half mile from tip to tail
D D A Asus A G
Silver and black with powerful fins
D D A Asus A G G A
They say he could split a mountain in two
D D A Asus A G
That's how we got the Grand Canyon
[Chorus]
D D A Asus A G G A
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G G A
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G
Last great American whale
[Verse 2]
D D A Asus A G G A
Some say they saw him at the Great Lakes
D D A Asus A G
Some say they saw him off of Florida
D D A Asus A G G A
My mother said she saw him in Chinatown
D D A Asus A G
But you can't always trust your mother
D D A Asus A G G A
Off the Carolinas the sun shines brightly in the day
D D A Asus A G
The lighthouse glows ghostly there at night
D D A Asus A G G A
The chief of a local tribe had killed a racist mayor's son
D D A Asus A G
And he'd been on death row since 1958
[Verse 3]
D D A Asus A G G A
The mayor's kid was a rowdy pig
D D A Asus A G
Spit on Indians and lots worse
D D A Asus A G G A
The old chief buried a hatchet in his head
D D A Asus A G
Life compared to death for him seemed worse
D D A Asus A G G A
The tribal brothers gathered in the lighthouse to sing
D D A Asus A G
And tried to conjure up a storm or rain
D D A Asus A G G A
The harbor parted, the great whale sprang full up
D D A Asus A G
And caused a huge tidal wave
[Verse 4]
D D A Asus A G G A
The wave crushed the jail and freed the chief
D D A Asus A G
The tribe let out a roar
D D A Asus A G G A
The whites were drowned, the browns and reds set free
D D A Asus A G
But sadly one thing more
D D A Asus A G G A
Some local yokel member of the NRA
D D A Asus A G
Kept a bazooka in his living room
D D A Asus A G G A
And thinking he had the chief in his sights
D D A Asus A G
Blew the whale's brains out with a lead harpoon
[Chorus]
D D A Asus A G G A
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G G A
Last great American whale
D D A Asus A G
Last great American whale
[Verse 5]
D D A Asus A G G A
Well Americans don't care for much of anything
D D A Asus A G
Land and water the least
D D A Asus A G G A
And animal life is low on the totem pole
D D A Asus A G
With human life not worth more than infected yeast
D D A Asus A G G A
Americans don't care too much for beauty
D D A Asus A G
They'll shit in a river, dump battery acid in a stream
D D A Asus A G G A
They'll watch dead rats wash up on the beach
D D A Asus A G
And complain if they can't swim
D D A Asus A G G A
They say things are done for the majority
D D A Asus A G
Don't believe half of what you see and none of what you hear
D D A Asus A G G A
It's like what my painter friend Donald said to me
D D A Asus A G
"Stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, they're done"

Last Great American Whale chords and lyrics

Free chords for Last Great American Whale by Lou Reed. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Riff repeats all the way through.
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Verse 3]
[Verse 4]
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]

Last Great American Whale Chords by Lou Reed

Learn how to play Last Great American Whale by Lou Reed with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Last Great American Whale chords”, “Last Great American Whale guitar chords”, or “Lou Reed Last Great American Whale 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 Last Great American Whale chords and for experienced players who want accurate Last Great American Whale lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, Asus, G.

Frequently asked questions about Last Great American Whale

How do I play "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed on guitar?

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Are the chords for "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed free?

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Can I transpose "Last Great American Whale" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Last Great American Whale"?

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

Is "Last Great American Whale" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Last Great American Whale" by Lou Reed with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Lou Reed below.

What key is "Last Great American Whale" in?

The chords for "Last Great American Whale" show the original chord names (including D, A, Asus, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.