Abilene Chords
Abilene by Damien Jurado is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G with a capo on the 6st fret. It uses the chords G/C, C, Am and C/G. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Standard Tuning,
G/C from 1st string to 6th: 0-1-0-0-2-3
On a couple of the Am's in this song, Damien strikes the fourth string on the second fret,
then plays the same string open, and then hits it again with his finger on the second fret.
Such is the case in the Intro, which is played like:
e----------0----0---------------------0-----0--------|
B----------1----1---------------------1-----1--------|
G----------2----2---------------------2-----2--------|
D---2------------------2---0---2---------------------|
A----------------------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------------|
Play the above 3 times for the Intro before walking up to C on the fifth string like: 0-2-3
C G/C Am
I fell in love with a girl of nineteen 2-0-2 on 4th as in Intro
C G/C Am
A black-haired girl I called Abilene Walk up to C on 5th
C G/C Am
Young girl, where's your husband?
C G/C Am
Sadly, she replied, I do not have one
C G/C Am
Then it's you I'll marry with your parents' permission
humming: Am - C - G/C - Am
C G/C Am
No fine sir, they will not let me marry
C
For I am a young girl
G/C Am
And you are a man without money
C G/C
Then I'll come by your window
Am
Tonight when they both will be sleeping
humming: Am - C - G/C - Am
C G/C Am
Outside your window in a carriage I will be waiting
C G/C
They'll awake to find you gone
Am
Open their eyes and think they're dreaming
C G/C
And never did they think
Am
That their Abilene would leave them
humming: Am - C - C/G - Am
C G/C Am
Now fine sir, where is it you shall take me?
C G/C
Is it in the mountains high
Am
Or is it the deep blue sea?
humming: Am - C - G/C - Am