Old Folkie Chords
by Harry Chapin
Old Folkie by Harry Chapin is a more advanced guitar song played in the key of D. It uses the chords D5, D4, A, C, Em, A/G, A/F#, A/E, D, G, D/C#, Bm, Bm/A, Dsus4, Gsus, Asus4 and Emaj7/11. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Intro: D5 D4 (2x)
verse 1
D5
He's the man with the banjo
And the twelve string guitar
D4
And he's singin' us a song
To tell us who we are
D5
When you look in his eyes
D4
You know that somebody's in there
verse 2
D5
Yeah he knows where we're going
And where we been
D4
And how the fog is gettin' thicker
Where the future should begin
D5
When you look at his life
D4
You know that he's really been there
A C
Still what is that name that they're callin' that man
Em
What is that name that they're callin' that man
A A/G - A/F# - A/E
You know...
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
They say he's always bleedin'
D G
But whenever somebody's needin' him
Em A
He's the one who cares
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
Whenever somethin's burnin'
D G
Or a lesson needs some learnin'
D D/C# Bm
Or a tide that needs some turnin'
Bm/A Em A
To some better world somewhere
Em A D
Yeah the old folkie's there...
Instrumental
D - G - D - G
verse 3
D Dsus4 D
Yeah for forty years now he's been pushin' on
G Gsus G
Carryin' the dream 'cause Woody's long gone
D Dsus4 D G Gsus - G - Gsus
He's the last voice singing that bound for glory song
D Dsus4 D
And if you've never seen him you might take a look
G Gsus G
He's the man that put the meanin' in the music book
D Dsus4 D G Gsus - G
Yeah the world may be tired but Pete's still goin' strong
A C
Still what is that name that they're callin' that man
Em
What is that name that they're callin' that man
A A/G - A/F# - A/E
You know...
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
They say he's always bleedin'
D G
But whenever somebody's needin' him
Em A
He's the one who cares
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
Whenever somethin's burnin'
D G
Or a lesson needs some learnin'
D D/C# Bm
Or a tide that needs some turnin'
Bm/A Em A
To some better world somewhere
Em A D
Yeah the old folkie's there...
Instrumental D - G - Gsus (4x's)
A C
Still what is that name that they're callin' that man
Em
Still what is that name that they're callin' that man
A Asus4 - Emaj7/11
You know...
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
Singin' for some hopeless cause
D G
Shoutin' down the mountain top
Em A
The wind is his only applause
D G
He's always the old folkie
D G
We don't know what we're missin'
D G
'Cause nobody ever listens
D D/C# Bm
'Cept the lovers as they're kissin'
Bm/A Em A
Aw he's singin' for them somewhere
Em A D
Yeah the old folkie's there
Em A D
The old folkie's there...
Outro
G - D - G - Gsus - D