The Ballad Of John And Yoko - The Beatles | Song Tabs - Guitar Chord Sheets

Song Index Songs by Chords Guide to Guitar Chords About

The Ballad Of John And Yoko The Beatles

The original recording by The Beatles features a lively, rhythmic acoustic guitar throughout, giving the song its signature driving feel. John Lennon played the rhythm guitar, keeping the energy up with a steady, percussive strum. Emulating this style will help you capture the song’s spirit.

## Chords

The song uses basic open chords: D, D7, G, and A7. These are beginner-friendly and transition smoothly.

## Strumming Pattern

Try a classic rock and roll strum: Down – Down Up – Up Down Up Keep strums light and bouncy. Emphasize the backbeat (the 2 and 4 counts) for a rhythmic, energetic feel.

## Chord Transitions

Practice moving between D and D7; they share most finger positions. From D7 to G, keep your ring finger down as an anchor. Switching to A7 from D or G is straightforward; just lift and reposition fingers smoothly.

## Additional Tips

Mute (lightly touch) the low E string on D and D7 to avoid unwanted bass notes. On choruses and the bridge, strum slightly louder to match the song’s dynamic lift. If you’re struggling with the strum, slow it down and count out loud until it feels natural.

With consistent practice, this upbeat Beatles classic becomes very approachable for new players.

D

D7

G

A7

Intro

D

Verse 1

D Standing in the dock at Southampton, trying to get to Holland or France

TheD⁷ man in the mac said "You've got to turn back"

You know they didn't even give us a chance

Chorus

Christ you know it ain'tG easy

You know how hard it canD be

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me

Verse 2

D Finally made the plane into Paris, honeymooning down by the Seine

PeterD⁷ Brown called to say, "You can make it okay,

You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain"

Chorus

Christ you know it ain'tG easy

You know how hard it canD be

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me

Verse 3

D Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton, talking in our beds for a week

TheD⁷ newspapers said "Say what you doing in bed?"

I said "We're only trying to get us some peace"

Chorus

Christ you know it ain'tG easy

You know how hard it canD be

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me

Bridge

G Saving up your money for a rainy day, giving all your clothes to charity

Last night the wife said, "Oh boy when you're dead

YouA⁷ don't take nothing with you but your soul think!"

Verse 4

D Made a lightning trip to Vienna, eating chocolate cake in a bag

TheD⁷ newspapers said, "She's gone to his head,

They look just like two gurus in drag"

Chorus

Christ you know it ain'tG easy

You know how hard it canD be

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me

Verse 5

D Caught the early plane back to London, fifty acorns tied in a sack

TheD⁷ men from the press said, "We wish you success,

It's good to have the both of you back"

Outro

Christ you know it ain'tG easy

You know how hard it canD be

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me

The way things areA⁷ goin', they're going to crucifyD me