Percy's Song Chords
by Arlo Guthrie
Percy's Song by Arlo Guthrie is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G with a capo on the 2st fret. It uses the chords G, C, Am, D and Dsus. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
G C G
Bad News, bad news, has come to where I sleep
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
Saying one of my friends is in trouble deep
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
Tell me the trouble, tell me once to my ears
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
Joliet Prison for ninety-nine years
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
A crash on the highway threw a car into a field
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
There were four people killed and he was at the wheel
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
But I know him as well as I know my own self
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
And he wouldn't harm a life that belonged to someone else
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
"That may be so," said the judge from the side of his mouth
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
But the witness who saw it, he left little doubt
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn, to the wind and the rain
G C G
He may, he may have a sentence for to serve
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
But ninety-nine years he just does not deserve
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
Too late, too late, for his case it is sealed
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
His sentence it is passed and it cannot be repealed
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
But he ain't no criminal, and his crime it is none
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
And what happened to him could have happened to anyone
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
At that the judge jerked forward and his face it did freeze
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
Saying "Would you kindly leave my office now please"
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
I squinted my eyes and I stood up so slow,
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
With no other choice except for me to go
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
Well, I walked down the hall and I heard his door slam
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
I walked down the stairs, but I could not understand
Am C D Dsus D
Turn, turn to the wind and the rain
G C G
I played my guitar through the night and through the day
Am D Dsus D
Turn, turn, turn again
G C (walk down bass to Am)
But the only tune that my guitar would play
Am C D Dsus D
Was oh, how cruel the wind and the rain