Southern Man

by Neil Young
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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 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 — Simple Sheet Music

"Southern Man" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of G, 164 BPM.

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

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesBeginnerLead SheetBar Sheet

About “Southern Man”

What key is "Southern Man" by Neil Young played in?
Southern Man is arranged in the key of G 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.

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