Folk, Pop

Carolina in My Mind Chords

James Taylor Beginner Key of D 5 Chords 3 min read

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Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Emtap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Emtap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Emtap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Emtap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.

Dtap to play

Gtap to play

Atap to play

Emtap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

D Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

D · G · A · Em · Bm

James Taylor’s wistful folk-rock classic about homesickness and longing. Beginner difficulty in the key of D.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of E while playing these D-position chords.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Verse 2

D G

There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind

D A

That love’s the finest thing around

D G

Whisper something soft and kind

A D

And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire

G A

I’m dying, ain’t I? Lord

D G A

I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Bridge

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

G A

And you must forgive me

D G

If I’m up and gone to Carolina in my mind

Verse 3

D G

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina

D A

Can’t you see the sunshine?

D G

Can’t you just feel the moon shinin’?

A D

Ain’t it just like a friend of mine

G A

To hit me from behind?

D G A

Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind

Chorus

D G

Karen’s name a-rings a bell

D A

Not a soul I know

D G

And torn between this home and home

A D A

I’m goin’ to Caro-lina in my mind

Practice tip: The D, G, and A chords are the entire song. Practice switching between them slowly until the transitions feel automatic, then add the strum pattern.