Rock

Pink Houses Chords

John Mellencamp Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · F

John Mellencamp’s heartland rock anthem about the American dream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original recording’s key of Bb, but these chords are written for open position in G.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

There’s a black man with a black cat

C G

Livin’ in a black neighborhood

G

He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard

C G

You know he thinks he’s got it so good

G

And there’s a woman in the kitchen

C G

Cleanin’ up the evenin’ slop

G

And he looks at her and says, “Hey darlin’

C G

I can remember when you could stop.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Verse 2

G

Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt

C G

Listenin’ to a rockin’ rollin’ station

G

He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile

C G

He says, “Lord, this must be my destination.”

G

’Cause they told me when I was younger

C G

Boy, you’re gonna be president someday

G

But just like everything else

C G

Those old crazy dreams just kinda went away

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Bridge

Em C G D Em

So he and his wife buy a weekend place on the beach

Em C G D

Yeah it’s a ticky-tacky little place on the beach

Em C G D Em

They call the real estate man, he says, “You’re doin’ fine”

Em C G D Em

Then one day you’re gonna pay the piper for your prime”

Verse 3

G

Well she’s a girl who loves the world

C G

And she’s lookin’ for some affection

G

You know she’s doin’ the best that she can

C G

To fight off all the rejection

G

She says, “I work all day in the laundry

C G

But at night I rock and roll the house”

G

She says, “I ain’t wastin’ no more time

C G

This crazy world’s gonna turn me out.”

Chorus

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Little pink houses for you and me

Outro

C G

Oh but ain’t that America for you and me

C G

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby

C G

Ain’t that America home of the free

D G

Yeah, little pink houses for you and me

D G

For you and me

D G

For you and me

Practice tip: The bridge uses a steady, repeating Em-C-G-D pattern; practice this progression slowly until you can switch chords without breaking the strum rhythm.