Folk

Big Rock Candy Mountain Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of G 3 Chords 3 min read

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Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D

A traditional American folk song about a hobo’s paradise. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on the story-telling rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

On a summer day in the month of May

D G

A brand new hobo, he started to roam

C G D

He rode an empty boxcar, you see

G C G D

And he headed for a mountain, a long way from home

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 2

G C G

Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees

D G

‘Round the soda water fountain

C G

Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings

D G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains, oh

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Verse 3

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D

The jails are made of tin

C G

And you can slip right out again

D

As soon as they put you in

G

There ain’t no short-handled shovels

C G

No axes, saws or picks

D G

I’m a goin’ to stay where you sleep all day

C G

Where they hung the jerk that invented work

D G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Chorus

G C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

D G

There’s a land that’s fair and bright

C G

Where the handouts grow on bushes

D G

And you sleep out every night

C G

Where the boxcars all are empty

D G

And the sun shines every day

C G

On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees

D G

The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings

C G

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Practice tip: The chord progression is mostly G, C, and D. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common change in this song.