Rhinestone Cowboy | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: C (F/C) | C (F/C) :||
Verse 1
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long.
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
Singin’ the same old song.
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) | G (C/G) | G (C/G) |
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway.
| F (Bb/F) | F (Bb/F) |
Where hustle’s the name of the game.
| F (Bb/F) | F (Bb/F) | C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
And nice guys get washed away like the snow in the rain.
Bridge 1
| G | G |
There’s been a load of compromising.
| F | C |
On the road to my horizon.
| F | D7/F# | G C/G |
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me.
Chorus 1
| G N.C G | C F/C | C F/C |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo.
| G | C F/C | C F/C |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know.
| G |
And offers comin’ over the phone.
Instrumental 1
| F C/E Dm7 | C G/B Am7 | G F C/E | Dm7 F G |
Verse 2
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
Well, I really don’t mind the rain.
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
And the smile can hide all the pain.
| C (F/C) | C (F/C) | G (C/G) | G (C/G) |
But you’re down when you’re ridin’ the train that’s takin’ the long way.
| F (Bb/F) | F (Bb/F) |
And I dream of the things I’ll do.
| F (Bb/F) | F (Bb/F) | C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe.
Bridge 2
| G | G |
There’s been a load of compromising.
| F | C |
On the road to my horizon.
| F | D7/F# | G C/G |
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me.
Chorus 2
| G N.C G | C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo.
| G | C F/C | C (F/C) |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know.
| G |
And offers comin’ over the phone.
Instrumental 2
| F C/E Dm7 | C G/B Am7 | G F C/E |
Chorus 3 (to fade)
| Dm7 F G | C (F/C) | C (F/C) |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo.
| G | C F/C | C (F/C) |
Like a rhinestone cowboy.
| Cmaj7 | C6 | G (C/G) |
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know.
| G |
And offers comin’ over the phone.
End (suggested)
| F C/E Dm7 | C G/B Am7 | G F C/E | Dm7 F G | C |
Rhinestone Cowboy’s chords, progressions, and TAB
Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy really is a perfect tune, hitting all the cliche chords for each section, proudly claiming all tricks as its own.
Released in 1975, it instantly became a proper country standard, claiming the top spot in the U.S.
Remarkably, it reached #12 in the U.K., which is impressive as the country scene on that side of the pond is not that big.
As a member, you’ll find chord analysis and TAB for each section so you can play this using the correct chords on your next country gig.
Here’s a link to the full lesson (members only): Rhinestone Cowboy chord analysis and TAB.
Become a member today and get unlimited access to all my guitar courses, the SEPR practice route, and the eBook Spytunes Method – You can learn guitar!
Rhinestone Cowboy chords | Related pages
Intermediate Acoustic
Most intermediate acoustic tunes can’t be played using just basic open-position chords. We have to move up the fretboard and play CAGED barre chords as well.
We incorporate bass lines, add licks, extend chords, and play vocal melodies. Most importantly, we invent second guitar parts and play these songs together.
Five similar tunes
- The Gambler chords
- King Of The Road chords
- Lyin Eyes chords
- On The Road Again chords
- Take Me Home, Country Roads chords
Glen Campbell
In the early ’60s, Glen Campbell became a session guitarist for the Wrecking Crew, as well as started to release tunes in his own name.
His best tunes include Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston, and I Wanna Live.
Glen Campbell on the web
Country & Folk
In the primarily acoustic genres of Country & Folk, you must acquire what matters the most: A repertoire. Nothing else will give you the gig.
Learn tunes by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, America, Don McLean, and many more.
