Piano Diana Blog: How To Play Rocky Raccoon

We recently had a couple of raccoons visit our pond at night and the little darlings destroyed our water lillies. Their little escapade reminded me of a famous Beatle tune called, Rocky Raccoon. Another great song that I like from the 60s... and apparently my readers as well, Let It Be.

Rocky Raccoon

Words and Music by John Lenon and Paul McCartney
© 1968, 1969 Northern Songs
From The White Album

Key: C
Time: Moderately, in two

Intro: Am7

     Am7                                           
Now somewhere in the black mining hills out Dakota 
      D7sus                              D7
There lived a young boy name of Rocky Raccoon 
    G7                              C
And one day his woman ran off with another guy 
C/B
Hit young Rocky in the eye... 
                           Am7                 D7
Rocky didn't like that, he said, "I'm going to get that boy." 
       G7                          G                            C
So one day he walked into town and booked himself a room in the local

saloon. 
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/beatles/275421.html ]
Am7                  D7sus        D7
Rocky Racoon checked into his room 
G7                   C  C/B
only to find Gideon's Bible 
Am7             D7sus          D7
Rocky had come equipped with a gun 
   G7                       C C/B   
to shoot off the legs of his rival. 
    Am7                   D7sus      D7
His rival, it seems, had broken his dreams 
   G7                       C C/B
by stealing the girl of his fancy 
    Am7                      D7 
Her name was McGill, and she called herself 'Lil' 
    G7                   C C/B
But everyone knew her as Nancy. 

    Am7                  D7sus D7 
Now she and her man (who called himself Dan) 
     G7                      C C/B
Were in the next room at the hoedown 
Am7                 D7sus D7  
Rocky burst in, and grinning a grin, 
          G7                   C C/B
he said, "Danny boy, this is a showdown." 

    Am7                D7sus D7 
But Daniel was hot. He drew first and shot 
    G7       G             C C/B
and Rocky collapsed in the corner. 
 
Da-n-da da da-n-da da da... Am7  D7  G7  C  3x

        Am7            D7sus     D7
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin 
    G7                      C C/B
and proceeded to lie on the table. 
 
          Am7
He said, "Rocky, you met your match." 
                  D7sus D7 
But Rockey said, "Doc, it's only a scratch. 
            G7                              G            C C/B
And I'll be better... I'll be better Doc as soon as I am able." 

    Am7                    D7
Now Rocky Raccoon, he fell back in his room 
G7                    C C/B
only to find Gideon's bible. 
Am7                        D7sus D7 
Gideon checked out, and he left it no dobt 
   G7                       C C/B
to help with good Rocky's revival. 
 
Oh yeah, yeah 
Da-n-da da da-n-da da da... Am7  D7  G7  C

How To Play Rocky Raccoon

Intro: A/GCG

Am7: A/GCG

D7sus: D/ACG

D7: D/ACF#

G7: G/GBF

C: GCE

C/B: B/GCE

Bridge:

AEGC/ D, C, E, Eb, D, C, A, C

DF#C/ D, C, E, Eb, D, C, A, C

GDFB/ D, C, E, Eb, D, B, G, F#

GDFB/ F, D, B, A, G, A, B, G

Outro:

C/ CC
EGC/ EE, then Eb
G/ DD, then CC
EGC/ A
CC/ CC

Have fun playing this fairly easy piece, whether on the piano or the guitar. There's a lot of block chording throughout the song and some fun riffs for the r.h. in the bridge. If you happen to be a guitar player, too... be sure and visit Hear and Play's music resource, Advanced Guitar 301

photo credit: whats up? :) via photopin (license)
*affiliate links in post*

Blessings,