Hello! Below you'll find my "America" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
Typical of Simon & Garfunkel, this song has an amazing chord progression and melody. The original is played on guitar, but it sounds great on piano as well.
Enjoy!
America Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for America:
America Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| D D/C# | Bm Bm/A | G | G* | X2
Mmm mmmm mmm mmm mmm
| D D/C# | Bm Bm/A | G | G* | X2
Mmm mmmm mmm mmm mmm
[Verse 1]
D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G*
Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together
D D/C# Bm
I've got some real estate here in my bag
F#m7 B7
So we bought a pack of cigarettes
F#m7 B7
And Mrs. Wagner pies
E D A D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G*
And walked off to look for Ame - ri - ca
E D A D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G*
And walked off to look for Ame - ri - ca
[Verse 2]
D D/C# Bm
Kathy I said as we boarded
D D/C# Bm
Kathy I said as we boarded
Bm/A G G*
A Greyhound in Pittsburgh
D F#m Bm
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
A
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
E A E Dmaj7
I've gone to look for America
D F#m Bm
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
A
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
E A E Dmaj7
I've gone to look for America
[Bridge]
Cmaj7
Laughing on the bus
Dmaj7
Playing games with the faces
Cmaj7
She said the man in the gabardine suit
Cmaj7
She said the man in the gabardine suit
Dmaj7
Was a spy
Gmaj7
I said be careful his bowtie is really
Gmaj7
I said be careful his bowtie is really
D D/C# Bm Bm/A Bm/G# G
A camera
[Verse 3]
D D/C# Bm Bm/A
Toss me a cigarette I think there's one
D D/C# Bm Bm/A
Toss me a cigarette I think there's one
G G*
In my raincoat
D D/C# Bm
We smoked the last one an hour ago
F#m7 B7
So I looked at the scenery
D D/C# Bm
We smoked the last one an hour ago
F#m7 B7
So I looked at the scenery
F#m7 B7
She read her magazine
E D A
And the moon rose over an
And the moon rose over an
D D/C# Bm Bm/A G G*
O - pen field
[Verse 4]
D D/C# Bm
Kathy I'm lost I said though
Bm/A G G*
I knew she was sleeping
D F#m Bm
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
A
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
E A E Dmaj7
They've all come to look for America
E A E Dmaj7
All come to look for America
E A E Dmaj7
All come to look for America
D F#m Bm
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
A
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
E A E Dmaj7
They've all come to look for America
E A E Dmaj7
All come to look for America
E A E Dmaj7
All come to look for America
[Outro]
| D D/C# | Bm Bm/A | Em Em/D | A7/C# A7 |
repeat and fade, or end
on D
| D D/C# | Bm Bm/A | Em Em/D | A7/C# A7 |
repeat and fade, or end
on D
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
America Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "America" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "America" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
