Country

Three Wooden Crosses Chords

Randy Travis Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 4 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Three Wooden Crosses"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Three Wooden Crosses" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Three Wooden Crosses" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Three Wooden Crosses"?

It was written by Kim Williams, Doug Johnson, and released in 2002.