Frank Black - Calistan: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Calistan" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. 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.

Learn Calistan Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Frank Black

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "Calistan" smoothly on your guitar.

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

A             F                 C
I took three days to drive down one street
A         F                 C
The radio on, tuned to the big fleet
A          F                       C
Invisible planes are cracking the concrete
G                 F
That's just what some people say
A    F
Hey hey

I put down my blanket on Cigarette Butt Beach
I saw the old man, he was doing OK
He's making his last stand on old bottles and cans
Round there, Calistan way,
hey hey

Chorus:
E           F
Used to be sixteen lanes
C           B
Used to be Nuevo Spain
A#          G
Used to be Juan Wayne
E           F
Used to be Mexico
C             B
Used to be Navajo
A#          G       A         F C
Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't-know

Went in from the weather when I got wheezy
I play some Pachinko, I play Pachisi
And St. Anne is still making it breezy
In the valley of tar that once was L.A., hey hey

And my best friend he's the king of karaoke
He struck up a chord and he took it away
Out of the pan and into Japan
Round there, Calistan way, hey hey
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to be Mexican
Used to be España Nuevo
Used to be Navajo
Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't know


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

A#

Guitar chord A#

C

Guitar chord C

E

Guitar chord E

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord G

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 "Calistan" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Calistan" by Frank Black.

Frank Black Song List