You Ain’t Going Nowhere

About

This is a fun little song and it’s easy to play.

Chord Progression

The song is in the key of G
It’s chord progression of G, Am, C, G
Each chord lasts for four beats

Strumming Pattern

How To Strum It

Use a downstroke on beat one
On beat two play another downstroke
Rest on beat three
Play an upstroke on the ‘ & ‘after the third beat
Finish out ‘4 &’ with a downstroke and then upstroke

Lyrics And Vocals

There are two versions of the song.

Verse 1

G
Clouds so swift
Am
Rain won't lift
C
Gate won't close
G
Railings froze
G                
Get your mind 
Am
off wintertime
C                
You ain't goin' 
G
nowhere

Chorus

G        Am
Whoo-ee! Ride me high
  C
Tomorrow's the day
   G
My bride's gonna come
G           Am
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
C                G
Down in the easy chair!

Verse 2

G                     Am
I don't care How many letters they sent
C                       G
Morning came and morning went
G
Pick up your money
Am
And pack up your tent
C                G
You ain't goin' nowhere

Verse 3

G
Buy me a flute
      Am
And a gun that shoots
C              G
Tailgates and substitutes
G
Strap yourself
    Am
To the tree with roots
C               G
You ain't goin' nowhere

Verse 4

G
Genghis Khan
    Am
He could not keep
C
All his kings
G
Supplied with sleep
G                         Am
We'll climb that hill no matter how steep
C                 G
When we get up to it

Alternate Lyrics

Clouds so swift an’ rain fallin’ in
Gonna see a movie called “Gunga Din”
Pack up your money, pull up your tent McGuinn
You ain’t goin’ nowhere.
Whoo-ee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
That my bride’s a-gonna come
Whoo-ee, are we gonna fly
Down into the easy chair.
Genghis Khan an’ his brother Don
Could not keep on keepin’ on
We’ll climb that bridge after it’s gone
After we’re way past it.
Whoo-ee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
My bride’s a-gonna come
Whoo-ee, are we gonna fly
Down into the easy chair.
Buy me some rings an’ a gun that sings
A flute that toots an’ a bee that stings
A sky that cries an’ a bird that flies
A fish that walks an’ a dog that talks.
Whoo-ee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
That my bride’s a-gonna come
Whoo-ee, are we gonna fly
Down into the easy chair.

Additional Notes

The “McGuinn” that Dylan mentions in the first verse of the Basement Tapes version is likely to be a reference to Roger McGuinn from The Byrds.