Pink Houses John Mellencamp Transcribed by:CPDmusic E-mail: CPDmusic@hotmail.com The song “Pink Houses” by John “Cougar” Mellencamp was written in 1983, reached No. 8 on Billboard charts, and remains a rock radio staple to this day. It is recommended for to intermediate guitar players. The song only uses a few basic chords, and has a pretty main riff, based off of the G and Cadd9 chords. RIFF: G Cadd9 G E||-----||-----------3------3--3--3--|--3------3------------| B||-----||-----------3------3--3--3--|--3------3------------| G||-----||*-------0--0------0--0--0--|--0------0------------| D||-----||*----------0------0--0--0--|--2------0------------| A||-----||---0h2-----2------2--2--2--|--3------2------------| E||--3--||-----------3------3--3--3--|---------3--------3---| G Cadd9 G ----------3----3--3--3--3--|--3------3-------------|| ----------3----3--3--3--3--|--3------3-------------|| -------0--0----0--0--0--0--|--0------0------------*|| ----------0----0--0--0--0--|--2------0------------*|| --0h2-----2----2--2--2--2--|--3------2-------------|| ----------3----3--3--3--3--|---------3--------3----|| CHORDS: Intro: RIFF Verse 1: G There’s a black man with a black cat Living in a black neighbourhood He’s got an interstate runnin’ through his front yard F C G You know he thinks he’s got in so good And there’s a woman in the kitchen Cleanin’ up the evening slop C And he looks at her and says “hey darling G I can remember when you could stop a clock” Chorus: C G Oh but ain’t that America for you and me G G Ain’t that America, something to see, baby C D Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah C Little pink houses for you and me Oh, for you and me RIFF X2 Verse 2: G Well there’s a young man in a T-shirt Listening to a rock ‘n’ roll station He’s got greasy hair, greasy smile F C G He says, “Lord this must be my destination Cause they told me when I was younger Said, ‘Boy, you’re gonna be president’ F C But just like everything else, those old crazy dreams G Just kinda came and went” Chorus: C G Oh but ain’t that America for you and me G G Ain’t that America, something to see, baby C D Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah C Little pink houses for you and me Oh, for you and me RIFF X4 Bridge: F C G (Play 4 times) Verse 3: G Well there’s people and more people What do they know, know, know Go to work in some high-rise F C G And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico, oh yeah And there’s winners, and there’s losers But they ain’t no big deal, F C Cause the simple man baby pays for thrills G The bills and the pills that kill Chorus: C G Oh but ain’t that America for you and me G G Ain’t that America, something to see, baby C D Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah C Little pink houses for you and me Oh, for you and me C G Oh but ain’t that America for you and me G G Ain’t that America, something to see, baby C D Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah C Little pink houses for you and me Oh, for you and me RIFF X4