Jun122023

Jason Isbell – White Beretta Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsEm G D Am

KeyKeyCapo

View

[Intro]
Em G Em G

[Verse 1]
Em
We were running through
               G
 the red lights
                       Em
In a hurry to get to nowhere
                   G
In a white Beretta
Em
We'll go to Memphis
                G
in the morning
To get it over with
           Em
 and in a couple days
                         G
You'll feel a lot better

[Pre-Chorus]
Em                         G
I was raised in the church
I was washed in the blood
        Em
 and we all were saved
                    G
Before we even left home
       Em
If his love is unconditional
G
Why do I feel so miserable?
Em
Why are you digging your
                 G
 nails in the Styrofoam?

[Chorus]
D
It was so many years ago
Am
Oh, and I just didn't know
Em                      D
But that ain't no excuse
D
For bеing who you are
Am                   Em
I thank you, and I'm sorry
                         D
For what you went through

[Verse 2]
Em
I was sitting at a red light
G
Listеning to Son Volt
Em
May the wind take your
          G
 troubles away
           Em
Could have been
 somebody's father
         G
Couldn't boil a pot of water
      Em
I was nineteen years old
             G
 in nineteen ninety eight

[Pre-Chorus]
Em                  G
Raised in the church
Washed in the blood and
    Em
we all were saved
                    G
Before we even left home
        Em
I thank God you weren't
 brought up like me
     G
With all that shame
and certainty
        Em
And I'm sorry you had
                   G
to go in that room alone

Check out our Music Instrumentation Tips and Guides on our Blog

[Chorus]
D
It was so many years ago
Am
Oh, and I just didn't know
Em                      D
But that ain't no excuse
D
For bеing who you are
Am                   Em
I thank you, and I'm sorry
                   D
For what I put you through

[Solo]
Em G Em G

[Chorus]
D
It was so many years ago
Am
Oh, and I just didn't know
Em                  D
But that ain't no excuse
D                    Am
I thank you for your grace
                         Em
For the dreams we got to chase
                   D
For what you chose to do

[Outro]
Em
We were running through
the red lights
G                      Em
In a hurry to get to nowhere
                   G
In a white Beretta

Check out our Music Instrumentation Tips and Guides on our Blog

How to play White Beretta: key, chords and progression

These are White Beretta chords by Jason Isbell on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

White Beretta by Jason Isbell is built around G major (one sharp: F♯), with 4 chords in all: Em, G, D and Am.

Most of the song cycles through D – Am – Em – D (V – ii – vi – V in G major). In solfa, that is soh – reh – lah – soh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: every chord here is an open shape on guitar: no capo, no barre chords needed.