I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow Chords

KeyG CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays402

I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow by Johnny Cash is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, D and C. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
G
Text
16
Speed
  			Capo on fret #3 
 
Intro: G D G 
 
G 
I was ridin' Number Nine, 
C                       G     
Headin' south from Caroline. 
G                     D         G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
G 
Got in trouble, had to roam, 
C                          G 
Left my gal an' left my home. 
G                   D           G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
 
 
C 
Just a kid, actin' smart, 
                  G 
I went and broke my darling's heart, 
                             D 
I guess I was too young to know. 
G          
They took me off the Georgia Main, 
C                         G 
Locked me to a ball and chain. 
G                    D          G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
 
 
Intro /G D G/ 
 
 
G 
All alone I bear the shame, 
C                     G 
I'm a number, not a name. 
G                   D           G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
G                  
All I do is sit an' cry 
C                            G 
When the evenin' train goes by. 
G                  D            G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
 
 
C 
I'll be locked here in this cell 
                   G 
Till my body's just a shell 
                                D 
An' my hair turns whiter than snow. 
G 
I'll never see that gal of mine. 
C                            G 
Lord, I'm in Georgia doin' time. 
G                   D            G 
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. 
    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

--
Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
No microphone? You can still tap any string above to hear its exact reference pitch.

Metronome

100 BPM Andante