Rock

Running on Empty Chords

Jackson Browne Beginner Key of D 4 Chords 3 min read

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Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Gtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

D · A · G · Em

Jackson Browne’s classic road song about life on tour. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Driving Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a steady, rolling rhythm to mimic the feeling of a moving vehicle.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

Lookin’ back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

G A D G

In sixty-five I was seventeen and runnin’ up one-o-one

D A

I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 2

D G

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

D A

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

G A D G

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

D A

I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 3

D G

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

D A

People need some reason to believe

G A

I don’t know about anyone but me

D G

If it takes all night, that’ll be all right

A D

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Verse 4

D G

Lookin’ out at the road rushin’ under my wheels

D A

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

G A D G

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

D A

Lookin’ into their eyes, I see them runnin’ too

Chorus

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Outro

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

D G

Runnin’ on empty

D A

Runnin’ blind

D G

Runnin’ into the sun

A D

But I’m runnin’ behind

Practice tip: Master the D, G, and A chords individually before trying to play the whole song, as these three chords make up the entire progression.