Rockin in the Free World by Neil Young critiques social and political issues of the United States at the end of the 80s. The song was inspired by the political events of the time, including George H. W. Bushs presidency and social tensions in American cities.
Key: E
Introduction:
Em
D
C
x4
Em
D
C
Colours on the street
Em
D
C
Red white and blue
Em
D
C
People shufflin' their feet
Em
D
C
People sleepin' in their shoes
Em
D
C
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
Em
D
C
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
Em
D
C
Don't feel like Satan but I'm to them
Em
D
C
so I try to forget it anyway I can
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
A
(play for 4 bars, interleave A with A7)
Em
D
C
(just like in the intro)
Em
D
C
I see a woman in the night
Em
D
C
With a baby in her hand
Em
D
C
Under an old street light
Em
D
C
Near a garbage can
Em
D
C
Now she puts the kid away and she's gone to get a hit
Em
D
C
She hates her life and what she's done to it
Em
D
C
That's one more kid that will never go to school
Em
D
C
Never get to fall in love never get to be cool
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
A
(play for 4 bars, interleave A with A7)
Em
D
C
Em
D
C
We got a thousand points of light
Em
D
C
For the homeless man
Em
D
C
We got a kinder gentler machine gun hand
Em
D
C
Em
D
C
We got department stores and toilet paper
Em
D
C
Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer
Em
D
C
Got a man of the people says keep hope alive
Em
D
C
Got fuel to burn got roads to drive
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
G
D
C
Em
KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
A
(play for 4 bars, interleave A with A7)
Em
D
C
Amended to include notes over the last two verses by Chris Blanton. Thanks to the original tab from Brian Dawson.