Folk

Clay Pigeons Chords

Blaze Foley Beginner Key of G 3 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Guitar

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Ukulele

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Piano

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Banjo

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Mandolin

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D

Clay Pigeons Chords – Harmonica

Blaze Foley’s gentle drifter anthem about finding home. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Fingerpick (4/4 Time)

↓↑↓↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Try fingerpicking this one. Blaze played it slow and loose — don’t worry about perfection, just let it flow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I’d like to stay here but the weather’s been bad

G D

I got a few dollars but that don’t make me glad

G C

I want to go somewhere where my name ain’t known

G D G

And just ride this road to the end

Verse 2

G C

I want to ride across the desert on a horse with no name

G D

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

G C

And I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wastin’ no more time

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 3

G C

I’d like to go to Austin, Texas maybe Nashville, Tennessee

G D

Anywhere them songbirds sing their songs for free

G C

I’d like to look in my mirror and see my face

G D G

And watch the sun rise in a new place

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Verse 4

G C

I’d like to think the road ahead is gonna be smooth

G D

But then I wouldn’t have nothing to prove

G C

So I’ll just go ahead and ride with the wind

G D G

Here I go again on my own

Chorus

C G

Like the clay pigeons they all fall down

C D

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

C G

Just like the clay pigeons they all fall down

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

D G

Free as a bird and goin’ to town

Practice tip: John Prine covered this beautifully. Try a simple fingerpicking pattern — thumb on bass notes (6th, 5th, 4th strings) and index/middle on treble strings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Clay Pigeons"?

You need 3 beginner-friendly chords: G, C and D.

Is "Clay Pigeons" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 3 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Clay Pigeons" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Clay Pigeons"?

It was written by Blaze Foley, and released in 1999.