Rock

Thunder Road Chords

Bruce Springsteen Intermediate Key of C 5 Chords 4 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · F · G · Am · Em

Bruce Springsteen’s epic anthem of escape and redemption, opening his landmark ‘Born to Run’ album. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Driving Rock (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song builds in intensity; start with a steady, measured strum and let it grow.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways

F C G

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

F C

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

G

Hey, that’s me and I want you only

F G

Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again

Verse 2

F C

Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for

G F

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

C G

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

F C

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

G

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Chorus

C G

You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain

F C G

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

F C

Waste your summer praying in vain

G F

For a savior to rise from these streets

C G

Well now, I’m no hero, that’s understood

F C G

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood

F C

With a chance to make it good somehow

G

Hey, what else can we do now?

F C

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

G F

Well the night’s busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real

To trade in these wings on some wheels

C

Climb in back, heaven’s waiting down on the track

Verse 3

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G F

Oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G

Lying out there like a killer in the sun

F

Hey, I know it’s late, we can make it if we run

C G

Oh, Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold

F

Thunder Road

Chorus

C G

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk

F C G

And my car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk

F C

From your front porch to my front seat

G F

The door’s open but the ride it ain’t free

C G

And I know you’re lonely for words that I ain’t spoken

F C G

But tonight we’ll be free, all the promises’ll be broken

F C

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away

G F

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets

They scream your name at night in the street

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet

And in the lonely cool before dawn

You hear their engines roaring on

But when you get to the porch they’re gone on the wind, so Mary climb in

C

It’s a town full of losers, and I’m pulling out of here to win

Bridge

F C

So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore

G F

Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night

C G

You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright

F

Oh, and that’s alright with me

Outro

C G

Oh-oh, come take my hand

F C

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

G

Oh-oh, Thunder Road

F

Oh, Thunder Road

C

Oh, Thunder Road

G F

Sit tight, take hold

C G

Thunder Road

F C

Thunder Road

G F

Thunder Road…

Practice tip: Master the chord progression (C, G, F, C, G) that forms the song’s backbone before adding the lyrics; the storytelling requires a confident, unwavering rhythm.