Southern Man

by Neil Young
🎹 Loading song
Preparing player…
1
—
Play in Kid Mode
YouTube → MIDI

Get the MIDI from any YouTube piano cover

Lyrics

South ern man, bet ter keep your head,

don’t for get what your Good Book said.

South ern change gon na come at last,

now your cross es are burn in’ fast,

(Dm)South ern man.

I saw cot ton hair and I saw (Gm)black,

tall white man sions and lit tle shacks;

South ern man, when will you pay them (Gm)back?

I heard scream in’ and bull whips crack in’.

How long, how long?

Ah!

South ern man, bet ter keep your head,

don’t for get what your Good Book said.

South ern change gon na come at last,

now your cross es are burn in’ fast,

(Dm)South ern man.

Lil y Belle, your hair is gold en (Gm)brown,

I’ve seen your black man com in’ ’round;

swear, by God, I’m gon na cut him (Gm)down!

I heard scream in’ and bull whips crack in’.

How long, how long?

Ah!

Southern Man by Neil Young

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 164 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “Southern Man”

What key is "Southern Man" in?
"Southern Man" by Neil Young is in the key of G with a tempo of 164 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
Is "Southern Man" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "Southern Man" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
How long does it take to learn "Southern Man" on piano?
1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by Neil Young can I play here?
Try "OLD MAN", "DOWN BY THE RIVER", "OUT ON THE WEEKEND". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

More songs you might like