Other arrangements of Cortez The Killer
Pick a learning view.
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 — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
13 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Cortez The Killer" by Neil Young: 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 E, 112 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Cortez The Killer”
- What key is "Cortez The Killer" by Neil Young played in?
- Cortez The Killer is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Cortez The Killer"?
- The arrangement plays at 112 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Cortez The Killer" 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 "Cortez The Killer"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Cortez The Killer"?
- "Cortez The Killer" was originally performed by Neil Young. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Cortez The Killer"?
- This arrangement uses 4 chords: Am7, C, D, Em7. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
- What other songs by Neil Young can I play here?
- Try "OLD MAN", "DOWN BY THE RIVER", "OUT ON THE WEEKEND". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Cortez The Killer" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Cortez The Killer" by Neil Young. 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 "Cortez The Killer" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in E, 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 "Cortez The Killer" 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.