Other arrangements of A Boy Named Sue
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Well, my daddy left home when I was three, and (Eb)didn’t leave much for Ma and me.
Just (F7)old guitar and an empty bottle of (Bb)booze.
Now, I don’t blame him because he run and hid, but (Eb)meanest thing that he ever did was be (F7)fore he left, he went and named me (Bb)Sue.
Well, he must have thought it quite a joke, and (Eb)got lots of laughs from lot of folks.
It (F7)seemed I had to fight my whole life (Bb)through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red.
And (Eb)some guy would and I’d his head, I (F7)tell you, life ain’t easy for boy named (Bb)Sue.
Well, daddy left home when I was three, and (Eb)didn’t leave much for Ma and me.
Just (F7)old guitar and an empty bottle of (Bb)booze.
Now, I don’t blame him because he run and hid, but (Eb)meanest thing that he ever did was be (F7)fore he left, he went and named me (Bb)Sue.
Well, he must have thought it quite a joke, and (Eb)got lots of laughs from lot of folks.
It (F7)seemed I had to fight my whole life (Bb)through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red.
And (Eb)some guy would and I’d his head, I (F7)tell you, life ain’t easy for boy named (Bb)Sue.
Well, (Bb)Sue.
A Boy Named Sue — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
31 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Bb, 188 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
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About “A Boy Named Sue”
- What key is "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash played in?
- A Boy Named Sue is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "A Boy Named Sue"?
- The arrangement plays at 188 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "A Boy Named Sue" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "A Boy Named Sue"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "A Boy Named Sue"?
- "A Boy Named Sue" was originally performed by Johnny Cash. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What other songs by Johnny Cash can I play here?
- Try "GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN", "IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND", "HELP ME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "A Boy Named Sue" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "A Boy Named Sue" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in Bb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "A Boy Named Sue" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.