Eagles - James Dean: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "James Dean" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

       A
James Dean, James Dean
I know just what you mean
       D         A
James Dean, you said it all so clean
        E
And I know my life would look allright
                                   A
If I could see it on the silver screen

You were the lowdown rebel if there ever was
Even if you had no cause
James Dean, you said it all so clean
And I know my life would look all right
If I could see it on the silver screen

       D
Well, talk about a low-down reb refrigerator,
          A
You were just too cool for school
 D
Sock hop, soda pop, basketball and auto shop,
    B                                 E
The only thing that got you off was breakin' all the rules

James Dean, James Dean
So hungry and so lean
James Dean, you said it all so clean
And I know my life would look all right
If I could see it on the silver screen

 D
Little James Dean, up on the screen
 A
Wond'rin' who he might be
  D
Along came a Spyder and picked up a rider
     B                          E
And took him down the road to eternity

       A
James Dean, James Dean, you bought it sight unseen
       D                     A
James Dean, James Dean, you bought it sight unseen
          E                                        A
You were too fast to live, too young to die, (bye-bye)
          E                                        D
You were too fast to live, too young to die, (bye-bye)
     A
Bye bye!

A
Too fast to live, too young to die, bye bye
B
Too fast to live, too young to die, bye bye
D
Too fast to live, too young to die, bye bye
F
Too fast to live, too young to die
A
Too fast to live, too young to die
B
Too fast to live, too young to die
(Bye bye bye)
D
Too fast to live, too young to die
(Oh James Dean)
A
Too fast to live, too young to die  Bye bye!


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

F

Guitar chord F

B

Guitar chord B

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "James Dean" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "James Dean" by Eagles.