Country

Three Wooden Crosses Chords

Randy Travis Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Guitar

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Ukulele

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Piano

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Banjo

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Mandolin

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Three Wooden Crosses Chords – Harmonica

Randy Travis’s poignant country ballad about faith and destiny told through a tragic bus accident. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Steady Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, while still playing the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C G

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher

D G

Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico

G C G

They were sittin’ behind me, I was sittin’ behind the driver

D Em C G

The preacher and the hooker were layin’ in the back

Verse 2

G C G

The preacher took his Bible, laid it on the seat beside him

D G

And quoted scripture ’bout the promised land

G C G

He said, “The Promised Land is waitin’ on the other side”

D Em C G

But the driver never heard a word he said

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Verse 3

G C G

I woke up to the sound of sirens and the splash of pavement

D G

A gentle rain mixed with the cry of pain

G C G

And in a blur of twisted steel, I heard the preacher say

D Em C G

“Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do, oh Lord”

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Bridge

Em C G D

Now the farmer left a daughter, the teacher left a son

Em C G D

And the preacher and the hooker had a little baby girl

Em C G D

And that story’s been passed down and now everybody knows

Em C G D

The reason that the preacher gave his Bible to the whore

Verse 4

G C G

Three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

D G

Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows

G C G

I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world be-hind you

D Em C G

It’s what you leave be-hind you when you go, when you go

Chorus

C G D G

‘Cause he was too busy talking to the man on the ra-dio

C G D

Askin’ for a song to help him drive

Em C G

He put pedal to the metal and he said, “Let’s roll”

D G

And that’s the last thing I re-member

D G

That’s the last thing I re-member

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout. Practice switching between G and C smoothly, as it’s the most common transition in this song.