Johnny Cash - Papa Was a Good Man: Guitar Chords
Learn to play "Papa Was a Good Man" 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.
Navigate quickly to the section you need:
- Chords and Lyrics - Jump straight to the song's lyrics and chord overlay.
- Chord Diagrams and Key Transposition - Access chord diagrams and learn how to transpose the key of the song to suit your voice.
Learn Papa Was a Good Man Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Johnny Cash
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 "Papa Was a Good Man" smoothly on your guitar.
For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.
A# C It rained all the way to Cincinnati F7 A# With our mattress on top of the car A# C Us kids were eatin' crackers and baloney F7 A# And papa kept on drivin' never stopped once at a bar Then mama started talking about Jesus And how our lives could be from now on While papa bought a used tire in Columbus Mama rocked the baby till all her tears were gone Chorus: D# A# She said your papa is a good man and don't you kids forget it D# C7 F7 The whiskey's tryin' to ruin him but I know the Lord won't let it D# A# Gm Then we sang Amazing Grace and Bringing In The Sheaves A# D# A# F7 A# D# A# F7 A# Rock of Ages Rock of Ages cleft for me I remember when papa finally gave up drinking I think mama was the only one on earth that really thought he could I remember all the times we'd packed everything we owned Into some old car and started out for some new town And through it all mama's faith was the one thing That was strong enough to finally do the some good Chorus You can simplify chords by removing barre | TransposeReset Font SizeReset Guitar Chord DiagramsAm  A#  C  C7  D#  F7  Gm  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 "Papa Was a Good Man" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Papa Was a Good Man" by Johnny Cash.