Sufjan Stevens – America Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Sufjan Stevens – America Chords on Piano & Ukulele

ChordsEmAmCDCmaj7C/EGD7Am7F

Key
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[Refrain 1]
Em       Am          C      D
   Is it love you’re after?
Em               Am                   C      D
   A sign of the flood or one more disaster?
Em                      Am           C  D
Don’t do to me what you did to America
Em                      Am           C  D
Don’t do to me what you did to America

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[Verse 1]
       Em                Am
I have loved you, I have grieved
      C                   D
I’m ashamed to admit I no longer believe
       Em              Am
I have loved you, I received
       C                    D
I have traded my life for a picture of the scenery
Em                      Am           C  D
Don’t do to me what you did to America
Em                      Am           C  D
Don’t do to me what you did to America

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[Refrain 2]
Cmaj7               Em    C/E      D
      I give it all up in laughter
Cmaj7                 Em               C/E    D
      The sign of the cross awaiting disaster
    Cmaj7                  Em               C/E  D
The dove flew to me like a vision of paranoia
    Cmaj7                  Em               C/E  D
The dove flew to me like a vision of paranoia

[Verse 2]
       Em                                  Am
I have loved you (I have loved you) like a dream (like a dream)
       C                       D
I have kissed your lips like a Judas in heat
       Em                                Am
I have worshiped (I have worshiped), I believed (I believed)
       C                      D
I have broke your bread for a splendor of machinery
Em                        Am              C  D
Don’t look at me like I’m acting hysterical
Em                        Am              C  D
Don’t look at me like I’m acting hysterical

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

[Verse 3]
       Em                                    Am
I have worshiped (I have worshipped), I have cried (I have cried)
       C                   D
I have put my hands in the wounds on your side
       Em                             Am
I have tasted (I have tasted) of your blood (of your blood)
       C                        D
I have choked on the waters, I abated the flood
     Em                         Am
I am broken (I am broken), I am beat (I am beat)
           C                  D
But I will find my way like a Judas in heat
     Em                           Am
I am fortune (I am fortune), I am free (I am free)
           C                     D
I’m like a fever of light in the land of opportunity

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[Chorus]
Em                      Am
Don’t do to me what you did to America
 C                       D
(Don’t do to me what you do to yourself)
Em                      Am
Don’t do to me what you did to America
 C                       D
(Don’t do to me what you do to yourself)
Em                      Am
Don’t do to me what you did to America
 C                       D
(Don’t do to me what you do to yourself)
Em                      Am
Don’t do to me what you did to America
 C                       D
(Don’t do to me what you do to yourself)
Em  Am  C  D
Em  Am  C  D
G  Em  Am  D
G  Em  Am  D7
G  Em  Am  D7
G  Em  Am  D7

G  Em  Am  D7
G  Em  Am  D7
G  Em  Am  D7
G  Em  Am  D7
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F

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[Outro]
G                                    F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                                    F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                                    F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                                    F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F
G  Am7  Am  F
G                       Am7          Am  F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                       Am7          Am  F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                       Am7          Am  F
Don’t do to me what you did to America
G                       Am7          Am  F
Don’t do to me what you did to America

How to play America: key, chords and progression

This is the chords of America by Sufjan Stevens on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

America by Sufjan Stevens is centred on E minor (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 10 chords: Em, Am, C, D, Cmaj7, C/E, G, D7, Am7 and F.

The progression the song keeps returning to is Em – Am – C – D (i – iv – VI – VII in E minor). 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.

Chord diagrams

Em chord on guitar (022000)
EmE G B
Am chord on guitar (x02210)
AmA C E
C chord on guitar (x32010)
CC E G
D chord on guitar (xx0232)
DD F♯ A
Cmaj7 chord on guitar (x32000)
Cmaj7C E G B
G chord on guitar (320003)
GG B D
D7 chord on guitar (xx0212)
D7D F♯ A C
Am7 chord on guitar (x02010)
Am7A C E G
F chord on guitar (133211)
FF A C

America chords: questions

What key is America in?

America by Sufjan Stevens is centred on E minor (one sharp: F♯).

What chords are in America?

America uses 10 chords: Em, Am, C, D, Cmaj7, C/E, G, D7, Am7, F.

What is the chord progression of America?

The main progression is Em – Am – C – D (i – iv – VI – VII).

Is America easy to play on guitar?

Yes. Almost every chord is an open chord, so it suits beginners.

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