Pink Houses by John Cougar Mellencamp Chords
Tuning (open G): (low to high) D,G,D,G,B,D
Chord fingerings: (low to high)
G: X,0,0,0,0,0
G5: X,0,0,0,3,5
C: 2,0,2,0,1,3
D: 0,0,0,2,3,4
F6sus2: X,X,0,5,6,5
F6/9: X,X,0,5,6,6
Cadd9: X,5,5,5,5,X or X,5,5,5,5,5 or X,5,5,5,6,X
Intro: G,C,G,G,C,G
Verse 1:
G5/G
There’s a black man with a black cat, livin’ in a black neighborhood. He’s got an
interstate running through his front yard and you know he thinks
F C G5/G G5/G
he’s got it good. And there’s a woman in the kitchen cleanin’ up
F C
evening slop and looks at her and says “Hey Darlin’, I can remember
G5
when you could stop a clock.
Chorus 1:
C G C
Oh but ain’t that America for you and me ain’t that America
G C D
Something to see Baby Ain’t that America home of the free
C G G
Little pink houses for you and me Oh yeah for you and me.
Instrumental break:
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/john_cougar_mellencamp/pink_houses_crd_ver_4.html ]
G C G G
Ow
C G
Verse 2:
G5/G
Well there’s a young man in a tee-shirt list’nin to a rock- ‘n’ roller
F
station. He’s got a greasy hair and a greasy smile. He says “Lord this
C G
must be my destination” Cause they told me when I was younger sayin’
F
“Boy you’re gonna be president” But just like everything else, those old
C G
crazy dreams just kinda came and went.
Chorus 2: (same as 1)
Instrumental break 2:
F6sus2 Cadd9 G5
F6sus2 Cadd9 G5
F6sus2 Cadd9 G5
Verse 3:
G5
Well there’s people and more people, what do know, know, know? Go
To work on some high rise and vacation at the gulf of Mexico.
Ooh yeah. And there’s winners and there’s losers but they ain’t no
F6/9 Cadd9
Big deal ‘cause the simple man baby, pays for the thrills, the bills, the
G
Pills that kill.
Chorus 3: (same as 1 & 2) (play twice)
Outro:
G5 C G5 G5 C
G5 G5 C G5 G5
C G5
If you want to learn the exact way to play intro to this song listen to the song
or buy the Hal*Leonrad Book titled “John Mellencamp Guitar Collection.”
