Rockin In The Free World Chord Chart by Neil Young
Welcome to my Rockin In The Free World guitar chords chart. This is a fantastic song that I have enjoyed working on with students over the years. So much fun.
And of course, one of the reason I love this song is because it uses the C, G, Em and D chords. Woo hoo!
This means we can make this song as easy or as hard as we want.
So let’s get in to how we are going to play Rockin In The Free World on guitar.
Strumming will be simple eighth notes, but if you know how to Palm Mute, this will add a lot of spice to your rhythm playing on the verses.
Strumming:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
DDDDDDDDD
Now there is a bit of a rhythmic synocpation the comes in on the first part of the verse and parts of the Chorus. As you can see below, the C chord changes on the ‘+’ after 2. If this is too much for you, changing it over the 3 won’t be that big of an issue to play the song in an easier way.
Verse:
Em D(hold) C (hold)
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Chorus:
G (hold) D (hold) C (hold) |C Em |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D D D DD D D
Want to learn more about 16th note strumming and improve on your playing? Check out Lauren’s Guitar Course.
ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD CHORD CHART BY NEIL YOUNG
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.
Intro:
Em | D C | x4
Verse:
Em | D C |
Colors on the street
Em | D C |
Red white and blue
Em | D C |
People shufflin' their feet
Em | D C | (syncopated rhythm ends)
People sleepin' in their shoes
Em | D C|
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
Em | D C|
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
Em | D C|
Don't feel like Satan but I am to them
Em | D C|
so I try to forget it anyway I can
Chorus: (Strum & Hold Chords)
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
Instrumental:
A x4
Em | D C | x4 (just like in the intro)
Verse:
Em | D C |
I see a girl in the night
Em | D C |
With a baby in her hand
Em | D C |
Under an old street light
Em | D C | (syncopated rhythm ends)
Near a garbage can
Em | D C |
Now she puts the kid away and she's gone to get a hit
Em | D C |
She hates her life and what she's done to it
Em | D C |
That's one more kid that will never go to school
Em | D C |
Never get to fall in love never get to be cool
Chorus:
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
Instrumental Solo:
A x4
Em | D C | x8 (just like in the intro)
Verse:
Em | D C |
We got a thousand points of light
Em | D C |
For the homeless man
Em | D C |
We got a kinder gentler machine gun hand
Em | D C|
Em | D C |
We got department stores and toilet paper
Em | D C |
Got styrophone boxes for the ozone layer
Em | D C |
Got a man of the people says keep hope alive
Em | D C |
Got fuel to burn got roads to drive
Chorus:
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
G D C |C Em|
Keep on Rockin in the free world
Instrumental/Solo:
A x4
Em | D C | x4 (play out)
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.