The American Ruse Chords by MC5

The American Ruse chords by MC5

Guitar chords with lyrics

The American Ruse
From the album Back in the U.S.A.

Intro
  DRUMS---------------------------
e|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
B|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
G|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------------|
D|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|--8---------|
A|----------|----------|----------|-----10---|--(10)----|----10-8----|
E|----------|----------|----------|-8-11-----|----------|---------11-|

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------| (x2)
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -

verse 1
      C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
They told you in school about freedom

      C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
But when you try to be free they never let ya

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
They said "it's easy,           nothing to it"

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
And now the army's          out to get ya

Chorus
   F5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-10----------10--------10--------10-|
A|-8-----------8---------8---------8--|
E|------------------------------------|
  Sixty-nine America in terminal stasis

   F5
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|-10--------10--------------10---------10-|
A|-8---------8---------------8----------8--|
E|-----------------------------------------|
The air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses

   C5
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|-10-----------10-------10-----------10/|
E|-8------------8--------8-------------8/|
  I'm sick and tired of paying these dues

   G5                            G5  A5  B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
And I'm finally getting hip to the American

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
   ruse

Transition
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|

verse 2
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
I learned to say the pledge of allegiance

   C5
e|-------------|------------|------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|------------|------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
D|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|--10-12-10--|--10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8---|--8--8--8---|----------|
Before they beat me bloody down at the station

   C5
e|-------------|-----------|-----------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-----------|-----------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-----------|-----------|----------|
D|-------------|-----------|-----------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|-10-12-10--|-10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|-8--8--8---|-8--8--8---|----------|
They haven't got a word out of me since

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
I got a billion years                probation

Chorus
   F5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-10----------10--------10--------10-|
A|-8-----------8---------8---------8--|
E|------------------------------------|
  Sixty-nine America in terminal stasis

   F5
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|-10--------10--------------10---------10-|
A|-8---------8---------------8----------8--|
E|-----------------------------------------|
The air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses

   C5
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|-10-----------10-------10-----------10/|
E|-8------------8--------8-------------8/|
  I'm sick and tired of paying these dues

   G5                            G5  A5  B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
And I'm sick to my guts of  the  American

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
   ruse

Transition
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|

Bridge
   A5
e|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|-7-----7----7---7--|
E|-5-----5----5---5--|
 Phony stars, oh no!

   A5
e|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|-7-----7----7---7--|
E|-5-----5----5---5--|
 Crummy cars, oh no!

   A5
e|---------------------|
B|---------------------|
G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|-7-------7----7---7--|
E|-5-------5----5---5--|
 Cheap guitars, oh no!

   A5
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|------------------------|
D|------------------------|
A|-7------7--------7---7--|
E|-5------5--------5---5--|
  Joe's primitive bar

   G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
  Nah!                Rock'em back, Sonic!

   G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|

Solo
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------| (x4)
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|

   C5  G5
e|-------|
B|-------|
G|-------|
D|-------| (x4)
A|-10--5-|
E|-8---3-|

   G5
e|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|---------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|

   G5                            G5  A5  B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|

verse 3
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
The way they pull you over, it's suspicious

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Yeah, for something that just ain't your fault

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
If you complain they're gonna get vicious

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Kick in your teeth and charge you with assault

Chorus

   F5
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-10--------------10-------------10------10-|
A|-8---------------8--------------8-------8--|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Yeah, but I can see the chickens coming home to roost

   F5
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-10-----------10-------------10---------10-|
A|-8------------8--------------8----------8--|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Young people everywhere are gonna cook their goose

   C5
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|-10---------------10-------------10------------10/|
E|-8----------------8--------------8--------------8/|
  Lots of kids are working to get rid of these blues

   G5                            G5  A5  B5
e|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
B|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
G|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
D|---------|---------|---------|-------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-7-7-9-9-|
E|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-5-7-7-|
'Cause everybody's sick of the American

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
   ruse

Outro
   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!

   C5
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-8--8-----|
G|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
D|-------------|-------------|-------------|----------|
A|-10-10-12-10-|---10-12-10--|---10-12-10--|----------|
E|-8--8--8--8--|---8--8--8---|---8--8--8---|----------|
Well well well, take a look around!

Coda
e|------------|------------|------------|------------|
B|------------|------------|------------|------------|
G|------------|------------|------------|------------|
D|------------|------------|------------|------------|
A|-------10---|-------10---|-------10---|------------|
E|-8-11-------|-8-11-------|-8-11-------|-8----------|

Last updated: April 22, 2017

Your last visited songs

MC5 chords for The american ruse

What is this?

Learn how to play "The American Ruse" by MC5 with our easy-to-follow guitar chords guide. Build confidence, sharpen your technique, and enjoy playing guitar.

Who Is This Page For?

This guitar chords tutorial for "The American Ruse" by MC5 is crafted for all musicians players ready to learn and grow. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, this guide meets you where you are.

Why This Page Is Perfect for You

No matter your skill level, this page is a valuable resource for improving your guitar chords playing.

What You Will Gain

By using our guitar chords, you’ll not only learn to play "The American Ruse" by MC5 with accuracy and style, but you'll also elevate your overall musicianship. Explore our full archive of guitar chords for more songs, skills, and inspiration.

Other versions of The American Ruse by MC5

The american ruse Tabs

×