Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.
Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.
Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.
Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.
Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.
Amtap to play
Ftap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
Am · F · C · G · Dm
Bob Dylan’s epic narrative protest song about the wrongful imprisonment of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This song has a lot of lyrics; focus on a steady, driving rhythm to carry the story forward.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
D A
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
E D
She sees the barkeep in a pool of blood
A E
Cries out, “My God, they killed them all!”
Verse 2
A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 3
A
Three bodies lyin’ there does Patty see
D A
And another man named Bello, movin’ around mysteriously
E D
“I didn’t do it,” he says, and he throws up his hands
A E
”I was only robbin’ the register, I hope you understand
A
I saw them leavin’,” he says, and he stops
D A
”One of us had better call up the cops”
E D
And so Patty calls the cops
A E
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin’
A
In the hot New Jersey night
Verse 4
A
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
D A
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin’ around
E D
Number one contender for the crown
A E
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
A
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
D A
Just like the time before and the time before that
E D
In Paterson that’s just the way things go
A E
If you’re black you might as well not show up on the street
A
‘Less you wanna draw the heat
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 5
A
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops
D A
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out pokin’ around
E D
He said, “I saw two men runnin’ out, they looked like middleweights
A E
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates”
A
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
D A
Cop said, “Wait a minute, boys, this one’s not dead”
E
So they took him to the infirmary
D
And though this man could hardly see
A E
They told him that he could identify the guilty men
Verse 6
A
Four in the mornin’ and they haul Rubin in
D A
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
E D
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin’ eye
A E
Says, “Wha’d you bring him in here for? He ain’t the guy!”
A
Yes, here’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 7
A
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame
D A
Rubin’s in South America, fightin’ for his name
E D
While Arthur Dexter Bradley’s still in the robbery game
A E
And the cops are puttin’ the screws to him, lookin’ for somebody to blame
“Remember that murder that happened in a bar?”
A
”Remember you said you saw the getaway car?”
D A
”You think you’d like to play ball with the law?”
E D A
“Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin’ that night?”
E
“Don’t forget that you are white”
Verse 8
A
Arthur Dexter Bradley said, “I’m really not sure”
D A E
Cops said, “A poor boy like you could use a break We got you for the motel job and we’re talkin’ to your friend Bello
D A
Now you don’t wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow
E
You’ll be doin’ society a favor
A
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin’ braver
D
We want to put his ass in stir
A
We want to pin this triple murder on him
E
He ain’t no Gentleman Jim”
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 9
A
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
D A
But he never did like to talk about it all that much
E D
It’s my work, he’d say, and I do it for pay
A E
And when it’s over I’d just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
A
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
D A
And ride a horse along a trail
E
But then they took him to the jailhouse
D A
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse
Verse 10
A
All of Rubin’s cards were marked in advance
D A
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance
E D A
The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
E
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
A
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger
D A
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger
E
And though they could not produce the gun
D A
The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed
E
And the all-white jury agreed
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Verse 11
A
Rubin Carter was falsely tried
D A
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
E D
Bello and Bradley and they both lied
A E
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride
How can the life of such a man
A
Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?
D A
To see him obviously framed
E D
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
A
Where justice is a game
Chorus
D A
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
D A
The man the authorities came to blame
E D
For somethin’ that he never done
A E
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
A
The champion of the world
Outro
A
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
D A
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
E D
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
A E
An innocent man in a living hell
A
That’s the story of the Hurricane
D A
But it won’t be over till they clear his name
E
And give him back the time he’s done
D A
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
E
The champion of the world
Practice tip: Work on memorizing the chord progression (A, D, E) and the long verses in sections, as the song’s power comes from the relentless, rhythmic delivery of the story.