Do Re Mi

Woody Guthrie

Key of E · Chords: I IV V

Verse 1

E                                     A
Lots of folks back East, they say, is leavin' home every day,
B                                               E
Beatin' the hot old dusty way to the California line.
E                                  A
'Cross the desert sands they roll, gettin' out of that old dust bowl,
     B                                                         E
They think they're goin' to a sugar bowl, but here's what they find

Verse 2

         B
Now, the police at the port of entry say,
B
"You're number fourteen thousand for this day."

Verse 3

           E                                                      B
Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi, folks, you ain't got the do re mi,
                                                                       E
Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee.

Verse 4

E                                                        A
California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see;
    E
But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot
E                    B     E
If you ain't got the do re mi.

Verse 5

E                                     A
You want to buy you a home or a farm, that can't deal nobody harm,
   B                                      E
Or take your vacation by the mountains or sea.
                                       A
Don't swap your old cow for a car, you better stay right where you are,
B                                E
Better take this little tip from me.

Verse 6

         B
'Cause I look through the want ads every day

Verse 7

But the headlines on the papers always say:
           E                                                      B
Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi, folks, you ain't got the do re mi,
                                                                       E
Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee.

Verse 8

E                                                        A
California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see;
    E
But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot
E                    B     E
If you ain't got the do re mi.