Folk, Rock

I Shall Be Released Chords

Bob Dylan Beginner Key of A 5 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Guitar

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Ukulele

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Piano

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Banjo

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Mandolin

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.

Atap to play

Bmtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

F#mtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

A · Bm · D · E · F#m

I Shall Be Released Chords – Harmonica

Bob Dylan’s poignant ballad of confinement and hope. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, and D shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A, D, and E chords without a capo.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A D

They say ev’rything can be replaced

A E

Yet ev’ry distance is not near

A D

So I remember ev’ry face

A E

Of ev’ry man who put me here

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 2

A D

They say ev’ry man needs protection

A E

They say ev’ry man must fall

A D

Yet I swear I see my reflection

A E

Some place so high above this wall

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Verse 3

A D

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd

A E

Is a man who swears he’s not to blame

A D

All day long I hear him shout so loud

A E

Crying out that he was framed

Chorus

D A

I see my light come shining

E A

From the west unto the east

D A

Any day now, any day now

E

I shall be released

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (A, D, E). Practice switching smoothly between A and D, as this is the most common transition in the verses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "I Shall Be Released"?

You need 5 beginner-friendly chords: A, Bm, D, E and F#m.

Is "I Shall Be Released" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 5 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "I Shall Be Released" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "I Shall Be Released"?

It was written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1967.