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Cortez The Killer

· by Neil Young

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Lyrics

He came (Em7)danc ing a cross the wa ter

with his (D)gal le ons and guns,

in their look in’ for the New World

and the pal ace in the sun.

On the (Em7)shore lay Mon te zu ma ful with his co ca leaves and pearls;

in his (Am7)house he of ten wan ri dered with the se crets of the worlds.

And his (Em7)sub jects a gath ered ’round him,

like the (D)leaves a round the tree,

in their clothes of man y col ors

for the an gry gods to see.

And the (Em7)wom en all were beau ti ful and the men stood straight and strong;

in they (Am7)of fered life in sac ri fice so that oth ers could go on.

And his

(Em7)Hate was just a leg end

and and (D)war was nev er known;

peo ple worked to geth er

and they lift ed man y stones.

And they (Em7)car ried them to the flat lands,

but they (D)died a long the way,

and they (Am7)built up with their bare hands what we still can’t do to day.

And I (Em7)know she’s liv ing there, end

and she (D)loves me to this day;

I still can’t re mem when

and or how I lost my way.

He came (Em7)danc ing a cross the wa ter,

but they (D)died Cor tez, Cor tez.

and they (Am7)What a kill er.

bare hands what we still can’t do to day.

And I

Cortez The Killer by Neil Young — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Cortez The Killer” by Neil Young in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of E at 112 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Cortez The Killer" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Cortez The Killer"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Cortez The Killer" use?: Just 4 chords: Am7, C, D, Em7. Few enough that a child can recognize them quickly.
What other Neil Young songs work for kids?: Try "OLD MAN", "DOWN BY THE RIVER", "OUT ON THE WEEKEND". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.