Tablature r o c k in the u s a - John Mellencamp

          



 #----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

  #This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #

  #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #

  #------------------------------------------------------------------------------##

  From: Scott A. Yanoff <yanoff@csd4.csd.uwm.edu>

  From: hamilton@elec.uq.oz.au (Lefty)

  

  

  

  R.O.C.K. IN THE U.S.A.

  ----------------------

  

  Very easy - the basic chord pattern is  E A D A (open chords)

  Generally, the strumming pattern (I think) is two downstrokes on

  the beat for each chord and then change to the next chord with

  an upstroke on the change.

  

  The only exceptions are replacing the E chord of the sequence

  with a B chord at the end of the chorus (which I don't usually bother 

  doing - the E chord sounds fine).  Also, use only a single downstroke

  and no upstroke in the first verse for each word in "crack, boom, bam".

  

  Anyway, it goes something like this:

  

  

  

  (Fast rock beat)

  

       E             A               D             A             E A D A

  They come from the cities and they come from the smaller towns,

  

  E           A            D             A     E      A       D    A

  beat up cars with guitars and drummers goin' crack, boom, bam.

  

  

  CHORUS

  

   E     A             D      A

   R. O. C. K.  in the U. S. A.

  

   E     A             D      A

   R. O. C. K.  in the U. S. A

  

   E     A             D      A           B

   R. O. C. K.  in the U. S. A, yeah, yeah

  

   (no chord)             E  A  D  A  etc, for a few more bars

   Rockin' in the U. S. A.

  

  

  - The remainder of the song follows the same pattern:

  

  Said goodbye to their families, said goodbye to their friends;

  with pipedreams in their heads and very little money in their hands.

  Some are black and some are white, aint't too proud to sleep on the floor tonight.

  With the blind faith of Jesus, you know that they just might . . . 

  

  (no chord)

  be rockin in the USA

  

  >Chorus

  

  Voices from nowhere and voices from the larger towns

  Filled our head full of dreams, turned our world upside down

  There was Frankie Lymon, Bobby Fuller, Mitch Ryder (they were rockin')

  Jackie Wilson, Shangrilas, Young Rascals (they were rockin')

  Spotlight on Martha Reeves, let's don't forget James Brown.

  

  (no chord)           (spoken)

  Rockin' in the USA.   Hey!

  

  >Chorus

  (repeat and fade)

  

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 R o c k in the u s a, de John mellencamp 

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