I Hung My Head Chords
by Blue Highway
I Hung My Head by Blue Highway is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, C, Em, Am and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
(G) (C) (Em) (Am) do two times
(G) Early one morning, with (C) time to kill
I (Em) borrowed a rifle and (C) sat on the hill
I (G) saw a lone rider, (C) crossing the plain
I (Em) drew a bead on him, to (C) practice my aim
(Am) My brother's rifle, went (D) off in my hand
A shot rang out, a-(G)-cross the land
The (C) horse he kept running, the (Em) rider was dead
I (G) hung my head, I (C) hung my head (Em) (C)
(G) I set off running, to (C) wake from the dream
(Em) My brother's rifle went (C) into the stream
(G) I kept on running, (C) into the salt lands
And (Em) that's where they found me, my (C) head in my hands
The (Am) sheriff he asked me, (D) why had I run
Then it came to me, just (G) what I had done
And all (C) for no reason, just (Em) one piece of lead
I (G) hung my head, I (C) hung my head (Em) (C)
(G) (C) (Em) (Am) (D)
(G) (C) (Em) (Am) (D)
(G) Here in the courthouse, the (C) whole town is there
(Em) I see the judge, (C) high up in his chair
Ex-(G)-plain to the courtroom, what (C) went through your mind
And (Em) we'll ask the jury what (C) verdict they find
I said, (Am) I felt the power of (D) death over life
I orphaned his children, I (G) widowed his wife
I (C) beg their forgiveness, I (Em) wish I was dead.
I (G) hung my head, I (C) hung my head (Em) (C) (Am) (D)
Instrumental break – Follow pattern of first verse
Note in the last verse, just use instruments on the parts that are CAPITALIZED.
(G) Early one morning, with (C) time to kill
(Em) I see the gallows, (C) up on the hill
And (G) off in the distance, a (C) trick of the brain
I (Em) see a lone rider, (C) crossing the plain
(Am) He's come to fetch me, to (D) see what they've done
We'll ride together (G) till kingdom come
I (C) pray for God's mercy, for (Em) soon I'll be dead
I (G) hung my head, (I (C) HUNG MY HEAD)
I (Em) hung my head, (I (Am) HUNG MY HEAD)
I (G) hung my heaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
Instrumental end
What I would do here is just follow pattern of first verse and fade away.