John The Gun Chords
by Sandy Denny
John The Gun by Sandy Denny is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of Cm with a capo on the 3st fret. It uses the chords Cm, Am, C, G, Dm, F and Em. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Capo III (Cm)
(Please note this is not the original arrangement;
I rearranged it to suit the limited skills
of a camp fire player like myself)
Am C Am
My shadow follows me wherever I should chance to go
C G Am
John the Gun did say
Am C Am
If you should chance to meet me, as I wander to and fro
C G Am
Sad will be your day
My life is mine and the light did shine,
till the guns shot right through me
So now I shall never fall
Ideals of peace are gold which fools
have found upon the plains of war
I shall destroy them all
Dm C
Put away your guns of steel
Dm C
Death comes too soon for all
F C Em
Your master he will need you soon
G Am
And you will heed his call
I am the master of the game
That you will hardly ever play
So I will teach your sons
And if they should die
Before the evening of their span of days
Why, then they will die young
(Chorus)
Condemn me not
For always have I played the game of war
In moonshine or in sun
And if any cross the path I choose to tread
Their chances they are poor
For I am John the Gun
(Chorus)