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Molly Hatchet – The Rambler Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

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These are the chords for The Rambler by Molly Hatchet on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

[Intro]
D  Dsus4 D  D/C  Dsus4/C  G/B  D/C
D  Dsus4 D  D/C  Dsus4/C  G/B  D/C
D  Dsus4 D  D/C  Dsus4/C  G/B  D/C
D  Dsus4 D  D/C  Dsus4/C  G/B  D/C
C
G C

[Verse 1]
D           D/C         G/B  D/C
  I'm going down to the river,
D       D/C          G/B  D/C
Just to bide my time away,
D         D/C          G/B  D/C
Don't you look or me tomorrow,
D        D/C                G/B  D/C
'Cause I won't be back this way,

[Verse 2]
Cadd9   G/B            A#6   Cadd9
Oh,     girl I hate to leave you,
Cadd9   G/B                A#6  Cadd9
But   I just can't seem to say,
D      D/C        G/B          D/C
When I see the sunrise in your eyes,
D       D/C      G/B   D/C
Darling I'll be on my way.

[Instrumental]
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G/B  D/C
D  D/C  G/B  Cadd9
G C D

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[Verse 3]
D            D/C   G/B D/C
The miles go by so slowly,
D  D/C         G/B        D/C
It seems that time stands still,
D              D/C
I long for the day that
      G/B    D/C
I can settle down,
D     D/C           G/B  D/C
But I guess I never will,

[Verse 4]
Cadd9   G/B              A#6  Cadd9
Oh, the cities they pass by  me,
Cadd9    G/B             A#6  Cadd9
Like the ships that sail the sea,
D      D/C               G/B     D/C
Lord I hear that highway calling,
D         D/C
Darling I hope you'll
        G/B   D/C
wait for me.

[Instrumental]
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
G  D/C  D
D  D/C  G/B  D/C
D  D/C  G/B  D/C
D  D/C  G/B  Cadd9
G C D

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 5]
D        D/C              G/B D/C
Oh, it's cold here in the city,
D         D/C              G/B  D/C
I live my life from day to day,
D          D/C         G/B D/C
Guess I'll always be a rambler,
D           D/C            G/B  D/C
But it's so hard to find my way,

[Verse 6]
Cadd9  G/B             A#6    Cadd9
Lord I need someone to help me,
Cadd9  G/B              A#6  Cadd9
I just can't go on this way,
D           D/C
I need your smiling
       G/B     D/C
face beside me,
D              D/C
So darling I'm coming
       G/B   D/C
home today.

[Outro]
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  D/C  G  C D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
D  A#6  Cadd9  D
D  D/C  G/B  D
D

How to play The Rambler: key, chords and progression

The Rambler by Molly Hatchet is centred on G major (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 9 chords: D, Dsus4, D/C, Dsus4/C, G/B, C, G, Cadd9 and A#6.

The progression the song keeps returning to is D – D/C – G/B – D/C (V – V – I – V in G major). In solfa, that is soh – soh – doh – soh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.