The Velvet Underground - Mean Old Man: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Mean Old Man" 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               G      D
Hey baby, I've found another
Don't you like it when I speak to your mother?
Hey crawlin' now I am cryin
Step aside, because babe, I'm flyin'

Chorus:
B               E
I'm mean and I ride to shoot
Strap on my guns, yeah, and whip on my boots
B                        D
All that other, well, it's just for the news
              A     G        D
'Cause I'm a mean, mean old mean
            A     G        D
Well I'm a mean, mean old man

Oh, little girl, spent your life on the dress
Found yourself in a cute little mess
Boys come, yeah, then they go
Still there's something that I think you should know

Chorus:
Because I'm mean and I ride to shoot
Strap on my guns and pull on my boots
All that other, well it's just for the loot
'Cause I'm a mean, mean old man
Well, mean, mean old man
Oh...

Hey baby, I've found another
Don't you like it when I speak to your mother?
Hey crawlin' now and I am cryin'
Been this way now for some long time

Chorus:
Because I'm mean and I ride to shoot
Strap on my guns, yeah, whip on my boots
All that other, well it's just for the loot
'Cause I'm a mean
Mean, mean old man

Yeah, I'm a mean mean (Mean old man)
Well yeah mean (Mean old man)
Say say say mean (Mean old man)
I told ya now (Mean old man)
Oh you know (Mean old man)
Get down (Mean old man)
Well get down (Mean old man)
Woo! (Mean old man)


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

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 "Mean Old Man" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Mean Old Man" by The Velvet Underground.