Carefree Highway

by Gordon Lightfoot
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Lyrics

(F)Pick in’ up the (C)piec es of my (A)sweet, shat tered (Dm)dream,

I (Bb)won der how the (F)old folks are to (Csus)night.

Her the (F)name was Ann, and (C)I’ll be damned if (A)I re call her (Dm)face.

from with (Bb)She left me not (C)know in’ what to (F)do.

Care free (Eb)high way,

I let me (C)slip a way on (F)you.

Care free (Eb)high way,

you seen (C)bet ter days.

The (Dm)morn in’ af ter (C)blues,

from my (Bb)head down (F)to my (Gsus)shoes.

Care free (Eb)high way,

let me (Csus)slip a way,

slip a way on (F)you.

(F)Turn in’ back the (C)pag es to the (A)times I love (Dm)best,

I (Bb)won der if she’ll (F)ev er do the (Csus)same.

Her I (F)thing that I call (C)liv in’ is just (A)be in’ sat is (Dm)fied

from the (Bb)know in’ I got (C)no one left to (F)blame.

Care free (Eb)high way,

I got to (C)see you, my old (F)flame.

Care free (Eb)high way,

you seen (C)bet ter days.

The (Dm)morn in’ af ter (C)blues,

from my (Bb)head down (F)to my (Gsus)shoes.

Care free (Eb)high way,

let me (Csus)slip a way,

slip a way on (F)you.

(F)you.

Let me (C)slip a way on (F)you.

Care free (F)you.

(F)you.

Carefree Highway — Classic Piano Sheet Music

4 people have learned this song

Read "Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of Bb. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 120 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Carefree Highway

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Carefree Highway"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature Bb. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot played in?
Carefree Highway 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 "Carefree Highway"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Carefree Highway" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Carefree Highway"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Carefree Highway"?
"Carefree Highway" was originally performed by Gordon Lightfoot. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Carefree Highway"?
This arrangement uses 9 chords: A, Bb, C, Csus4, Dm, Eb, F, G7, +1 more.
What other songs by Gordon Lightfoot can I play here?
Try "SUNDOWN", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Song For A Winter's Night". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Carefree Highway" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature Bb, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 120 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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