A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 
         
             
             
             
             
        << Back to Johnny Cash Song List
Version 1 Version 4
            When the Man Comes Around - Johnny "The Real King" Cash
[Chords]
      EADGBe
C/G   332010 
Am    x02210 
F     133211 
G     320003 
C     x32010 
C*    x32013 
Notes:
Ok, so here goes.  C/G is a muted chord you just have to listen to the song
to hear the pattern. I know there are at least two guitars in this song but
this is just how I figured it out for one and it sounds ok to me.
I definitely would like any kind of feedback on this as this is my
VERY first tab work.
Enjoy!  Johnny Cash is and forever shall be "THE MAN"
Below are the chord changes that have a little picking part to it.
Listen to the song and it will all make sense.
       (n-m) means non-muted
   C/G                              Am             F   G   C/G (n-m)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------3---2---0-----------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
....a Golden Ladder reaching down
    C/G
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
     The hairs on your arm...
  C/G                         Am              F    G        C
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------3---2---0------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
....into the Potter's ground
   C                         G
e|---------------------------3-----------------------------------|
B|---------------------------0-----------------------------------|
G|---------------------------0-----------------------------------|
D|-----------0---2---3---2---0-----------------------------------|
A|---------------------------2-----------------------------------|
E|---------------------------3-----------------------------------|
...marching to the big kettle drum....
                                       C/G (n-m)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------0---2---3------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
...it's Alpha and Omega's Kingdom come.
 Ok, for the rest of the song you can basically listen and figure
out the changes the pickings are all the same.  Here's the lyrics
with the chords.
[Spoken]
And I heard as it were the noise of thunder.  One of the four
beasts saying, "Come and see".  and I saw and behold a white horse
C/G
there's a man goin' round takin' names and he decides who to free
and who to blame everybody won't be treated all the same
                                         Am  F    G
there'll be a golden ladder reaching down       when the
man comes around
C/G
the hairs on your arm will stand up at the terror in each sip
and in each sup  will you partake of that last offered cup?  or
                                   Am  F   G
or disappear into the potter's ground   when the
man comes around
[Chorus]
C                                  C*      C
  Hear the trumpets hear the pipers        one hundred million
              C*  C                                  G
angels singing    multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum
G
voices calling and voices crying some are born and some are dying
                               C/G (nm) F
it's alpha and omega's kingdom come     and the whirlwind is in the
G          C/G                                        F
thorn tree the virgins are all trimming their wicks  the
                    G
whirlwind is in the thorn tree
C/G
it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks til armegeddon no
shalam no shalom then the father hen will call his chickens home
the wise men will bow down before the throne and at his feet
                                Am  F   G
they'll cast their golden crowns      when the man comes around
C/G
whoever is unjust let him be unjust still whoever is righteous
let him be righteous still whoever is filthy let him be filthy
                                           Am  F    G
still listen to the words long written down       when the
man comes around
[Chorus]
C                                  C*      C
  Hear the trumpets hear the pipers        one hundred million
              C*  C                                  G
angels singing    multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum
G
voices calling and voices crying some are born and some are dying
                               C/G (nm) F
it's alpha and omega's kingdom come     and the whirlwind is in the
G          C/G                                        F
thorn tree the virgins are all trimming their wicks  the
                    G
whirlwind is in the thorn tree
C/G
it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks in measured hundred
                     Am  F    G                     C/G (n-m)
weight and penny pound      when the man comes around
[Spoken]
and I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts and I looked
and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death,
and Hell followed with him
(The final C chord ends with a strong down up) 
        
                