Rock, Pop

Levon Chords

Elton John Intermediate Key of C 5 Chords 4 min read Updated Jul 2026

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Guitar

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Ukulele

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Piano

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Banjo

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Mandolin

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Dm

Levon Chords – Harmonica

Elton John’s classic character-driven song about a man named Levon and his family across generations. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk-Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a steady, rolling feel; accent the bass notes on the downstrokes.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Verse 2

C G

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town

F C

His family busi-ness

F C

The jealousy kills

F G C

And he keeps his photo albums full of town

F G

Levon, Levon goes with tradition

F C

And the kids they don’t under-stand

F C

The microphone he sings in

F G

Looks a lot like a gun

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Bridge

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

F C

And he shall be Levon

F C

And he shall be a good man

Verse 3

C G

Levon wears his war wound like a crown

F C

He calls his child Jesus

F C

‘Cause he likes the name

F G C

And he sends him to the finest school in town

F G

Levon, Levon likes his money

F C

He makes a lot they say

F C

Spends his days count-ing

F G

In a garage by the motorway

Chorus

C G

He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day

F C

When the New York Times said God is dead and the war’s begun

F G

Alvin Tostig has a son today

C

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

F

And he shall be Levon

C

In tradition with the family plan

F

And he shall be Levon

G

And he shall be a good man

C

He shall be Levon

Practice tip: The bridge is a great section to work on the F to C transition; use a metronome to keep the rhythm steady and build intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Levon"?

You need 5 intermediate-friendly chords: C, F, G, Am and Dm.

Is "Levon" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Levon" in?

It is in the key of C.

Who wrote "Levon"?

It was written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and released in 1971.