“Don’t Fence Me In” – Cole Porter
[Chords by Joan’s Genius 2008}
This is my most favorite song. The chords below are based on my 2 favorite covers of this:
(1) a very slow & quiet blues rendition by Holly Cole &
(2) a very fast & lively cajun version by David Byrne.
* I've revised this to include the intros (about Wildcat Kelley) that are in the original version. Feel free
to sing it with or without these sections.
“Don’t Fence Me In”
[A] [D]
Wildcat Kelley, lookin mighty pale
[A] [E7]
Was standing by the sheriff’s side
[A] [D]
And when the sheriff said, “I’m sending you to jail”
[E] [A]
Wildcat raised his head and cried
[E] [E7] [A]
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
[E]
Don't fence me in
[E]
Let me ride through the wide-open country that I love
[E] [E7] [A]
Don't fence me in
[A] [A7]
Oh let me be by myself in the evening breeze
[D] [Dm]
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
[A] [A7]
Send me off forever, but I ask you, please
[E] [E7] [A]
Don't fence me in
[A7] [D] [A]
Just let me loose // Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the western skies
[A7] [D] [A]
On my cayuse // Let me wonder over yonder till I see the mountains rise
[E] [E7] [A] [A7]
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
[D] [Dm] [A] [A7] [D] [Dm]
Gaze at the moon until I lose my senses // Can't look at hobbles & I can't stand fences
[E] [E7] [A]
Don't fence me in
(Solo)
[A] [D]
Wildcat Kelley, back again in town
[A] [E7]
Was standin by his sweetheart’s side
[A] [D]
And when his sweetheart said, “come on, let’s settle down”
[E] [A]
Wildcat raised his head and cried
(repeat from “Oh give me land”)
[E] [E7] [A]
Don't fence me in!
