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You Ain’t Going Nowhere

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    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.