Southern Man

by Neil Young
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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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 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 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 — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

6 people have learned this song

Learn "Southern Man" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of D, 164 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Southern Man”

Can I play "Southern Man" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Southern Man" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Southern Man" by Neil Young played in?
Southern Man is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Southern Man"?
The arrangement plays at 164 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Southern Man" 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 "Southern Man"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Southern Man"?
"Southern Man" was originally performed by Neil Young. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
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.
Can a complete beginner play "Southern Man"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Southern Man" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Southern Man"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Southern Man" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.