Rocky Raccoon – Song Background
During the Beatles retreat in India, Paul McCartney wrote a number of songs and “Rocky Raccoon” is ne one of them. He was inspired to play more acoustic guitar during their stay there. He played with John Lennon and Donovan.
“Rocky Raccoon” is a song by the Beatles from the double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album).
You can refer to the video below as I try to explain how to play rocky raccoon on acoustic guitar.
How To Play Rocky Raccoon
This is an easy one once you get the hang of the strumming pattern and the chords.
The whole pattern and chords are the same all throughout the song! Check it out! Learn the chords and you are on your way in playing this Beatles song. More detail explanation in text can be found after the video.
Buy Beatles Music Tabs / Music
www.howtoplaybeatles.com/completemusic
Rocky Raccoon Guitar Chords
The whole song can be played by 3 chords with some variation for each chords. For example, D major and D Major Sus4 (Dsus4) are played one after the other.
C major and C major with /B bass is also played one after the other.
The guitar chords used for this song are the following:
For C and C/B the high G on the third string is played by the pinky finger. Also for Am7, the aside from the open G note on the 3rd string, high G on 1st string is also played.
As a matter of fact, high G note is played although out the song except for D major 🙂
Rocky Raccoon – Lyrics
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
He hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn’t like that he said I’m gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon
Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon’s bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man, who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoedown
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said, Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said, Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it’s only a scratch
And I’ll be better, I’ll be better Doc as soon as I am able
And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon’s bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky’s revival
