Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Hello! Below you'll find my "Like a Rolling Stone" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This legendary song by Bob Dylan only has a few chords in it so it's fairly easy to learn. In the video, after I teach you a basic chord accompaniment, I go back through and give a bunch of ideas for how to spice up your playing.
Enjoy!
Like a Rolling Stone Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Like a Rolling Stone:
Like a Rolling Stone Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| C Fmaj7/C | X4
| C Fmaj7/C | X4
[Verse 1]
C Dm7
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Em F G
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
C Dm7 Em
People call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
F G
You thought they were all kiddin' you
F G
You used to laugh about
F G
Everybody that was hangin' out
F Em Dm7 C
Now you don't talk so loud
F Em Dm7 C
Now you don't seem so proud
Dm7 F G
About having to be scrounging your next meal
[Chorus 1]
C F G C F G
How does it feel how does it feel
C F G
To be without a home
C F G C F G
How does it feel how does it feel
C F G
To be without a home
C F G
Like a complete unknown
C F G
Like a rolling stone
Like a complete unknown
C F G
Like a rolling stone
| C F | G | G |
[Verse 2]
C Dm7 Em
Aww, you've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
F G
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
C Dm7 Em
Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
F G
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
F G
You say you never compromise
F G
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
F Em Dm7 C
He's not selling any alibis
F Em Dm7 C
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
Dm7 F G
And say do you want to make a deal?
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
F G
You say you never compromise
F G
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
F Em Dm7 C
He's not selling any alibis
F Em Dm7 C
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
Dm7 F G
And say do you want to make a deal?
[Chorus 2]
C F G C F G
How does it feel how does it feel
C F G C F G
To be on your own with no direction home
C F G C F G
A complete unknown like a rolling stone
C F G C F G
How does it feel how does it feel
C F G C F G
To be on your own with no direction home
C F G C F G
A complete unknown like a rolling stone
| C F | G | G |
[Verse 3]
C Dm7 Em
Aww, you never turned around to see the frowns
F
On the jugglers and the clowns
G
When they all did tricks for you
C Dm7
Never understood that it ain't no good
Em F G
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
F
You used to ride on the chrome horse
C Dm7
Never understood that it ain't no good
Em F G
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
F
You used to ride on the chrome horse
G
With your diplomat
F G
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
F Em Dm7 C
Ain't it hard when you discover that
F Em Dm7 C
He really wasn't where it's at
Dm7 F G
After he took from you everything he could steal
F G
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
F Em Dm7 C
Ain't it hard when you discover that
F Em Dm7 C
He really wasn't where it's at
Dm7 F G
After he took from you everything he could steal
[Chorus 3]
C F G C F G
How does it feel how does it feel
C F G C F G
To have you on your own with no direction home
C F G C F G
Like a complete unknown like a rolling stone
| C F | G | G |
[Verse 4]
C Dm7 Em
Aww, princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
F G
They're all drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
C Dm7 Em
Exchanging all precious gifts
F
But you'd better take your diamond ring
G
You'd better pawn it babe
F G
You used to be so amused
F G
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
F Em Dm7 C
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
F Em Dm7 C
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
Dm7 F G
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
F G
You used to be so amused
F G
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
F Em Dm7 C
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
F Em Dm7 C
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
Dm7 F G
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
[Chorus 4]
C F G C F G
How does it feel awww how does it feel
C F G C F G
To be on your own with no direction home
C F G C F G
Like a complete unknown like a rolling stone
C F G C F G
How does it feel awww how does it feel
C F G C F G
To be on your own with no direction home
C F G C F G
Like a complete unknown like a rolling stone
| C F | G :|| repeat and fade, or end on C
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Like a Rolling Stone Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Like a Rolling Stone" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Like a Rolling Stone" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
