Shakedown Street

· by Grateful Dead

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Lyrics

You (G)tell me this town ain’t got no (C)heart.

day,

(Dm)Well, (C)well, (Dm)well,

you can (C)nev er (Dm)tell.

The (G)sun ny side of the street is (C)dark.

(Dm)Well, (C)well, (Dm)well, you can (C)nev er (Dm)tell.

May be that’s ’cause it’s (Fmaj7)mid night

and the (Em7)dark led of the moon be sides.

Don’t (Fmaj7)May be the dark is from your eyes.

(Don’t (May be the dark is from your eyes.) Don’t (Em7)May be the dark is from your eyes.

(Don’t (Ebm7)(May be the dark is from your eyes.) Don’t (Dm7)May be the dark is from your eyes.

(Don’t (May be the dark is from your eyes.) You (G)know you got such dark eyes.

loud.

(C7sus)Noth in’ shak in’ on Shake down Street.

(C7sus)Used to be the (C7)heart of town.

Don’t (C7sus)tell me this (C7)town ain’t got no heart.

You (C7sus)just got to (C7)poke a round.

You (G)think me you seen this town clear (C)through.

day,

(Dm)Well, (C)well, (Dm)well,

you can (C)nev er (Dm)tell.

I (G)Noth in’ here that could in t’rest (C)you.

(Dm)Well, (C)well, (Dm)well,

you can (C)nev er (Dm)tell.

It’s not be cause you (Fmaj7)missed out

on the (Em7)thing led that we had to start.

Don’t (Fmaj7)May be you had too much too fast.

(Don’t (May be you had too much too fast.) Don’t (Em7)May be you had too much too fast.

(Don’t (Ebm7)(May be you had too much too fast.) Don’t (Dm7)May be you had too much too fast.

(Don’t (May be you had too much too fast.) And (G)just o ver played your part.

loud.

(C7sus)Noth in’ shak in’ on Shake down Street.

(C7sus)Used to be the (C7)heart of town.

Don’t (C7sus)tell me this (C7)town ain’t got no heart.

You (C7sus)just got to (C7)poke a round.

You

Shakedown Street by Grateful Dead — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Shakedown Street” by Grateful Dead 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 C at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

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 "Shakedown Street" 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 "Shakedown Street"?: 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 "Shakedown Street" use?: Just 10 chords: C, C7, C9, Dm, Dm7, Ebm7, Em7, F, +2 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Grateful Dead songs work for kids?: Try "UNCLE JOHN'S BAND", "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED", "SUGAR MAGNOLIA". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.