Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas - Harry Chapin | Song Tabs

Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas Harry Chapin

by Harry Chapin

About the Original
Harry Chapin’s “Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas” is a storytelling folk-rock song, originally performed with an energetic yet steady driving rhythm, capturing the suspense and humor of its narrative.

How to Play on Guitar

Start by getting comfortable with the main chords: E, E7, A, Am, D, Bm, B, B7, G, F, F#. These are mostly open chords, except for Bm, F, and F#, which are barre chords and may require some extra practice for beginners.

Intro and Verses
The intro alternates between E and E7, giving a bluesy feel. Use a simple down-strum or alternating down-up strum for this part.

For the verses, maintain a moderate tempo. A good strumming pattern is down-down-up-up-down-up (D-D-U-U-D-U), which fits well with folk songs and keeps the rhythm lively.

Chord Transitions
Transitions between E, A, and Am are frequent. Practice moving your fingers smoothly between these, especially A to Am—just lift your ring finger. The change from Bm to E and D to A may take some attention; slow practice helps.

Barre Chords
Bm, F, and F# use the index finger to press all strings. If barre chords are difficult, try “cheat” versions or play only the highest four strings.

Tips

Focus on keeping the rhythm steady, even if you need to simplify the strumming.
When you encounter the outro, notice the key jumps to F and F#—barre these at the 1st and 2nd frets respectively.
Don’t rush; storytelling is key, so let the lyrics lead your phrasing.

With practice, this song is a fun way to develop chord changes and strumming consistency!

Intro

E E⁷ E E⁷ E E⁷ E

Verse 1

It was just after dark when the truck started down, theA hill that leads into Scranton PennsylE vania

CarryingD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

CarryingD thirtyA thousandB pounds, of baE nanas

Verse 2

He was aE young driver,A just out on hisAm second job and he wasE carrying the next day's pasty fruits

ForB everyone in that coal-scarred city. WhereE children play, without despair

InA backyard slag-pilesAm and folks manage toE eat each day

AboutD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

Yes just aboutD thirtyA thousandB pounds of baE nanas

Verse 3

HeE passed a sign that he should have seen, sayin' "A Shift to low gear aAm fifty dollarE fine my friend"

He wasB⁷ thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman who wasE waiting at the journey's end

HeA started down theAm two mile drop, theE curvin' road that wound from the top of theB⁷ hill

He was pushing on through the shortenin' miles thatE ran down, to the depot

Just a few more miles to go, thenA he'd go home andAm have her ease hisE long cramped day away

And the smell ofD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

Yes the smell ofD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

Verse 4

He wasE pickin' speed as the city spread itsA twinklingAm lights, beE low him

But he paid no heed as the shiverin' thoughts of theA nights, deAm lights, wentE through him

HisB foot nudged the brakes to slow him down. But theB⁷ pedal floored easy without a sound

He said "Cha-E rist!" It was funny how he had named the only man, who couldB⁷ save him now

He was trapped inside a dead-end hellE slide ridin' on his fear-hunched back

WasA every one ofAm those, yellowE green. I'm telling youD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

Yes there wereD thirtyA thousandBm pounds, of baE nanas

Verse 5

HeE barely made the sweepin' curve thatA led inAm to, theE steepest grade

And he missed the thankful passing bus atA ninetyAm miles, anE hour

And he said "Godddddd make it aBm dream!" as heG rode hisD last rideE down

He said "Goddddd make it aBm dream!" as heG rode hisD last rideA down

And heAm sideswiped nineteen neat parked carsE clipped off thirteen telephone poles

A Hit two housesAm bruised eight trees andE Blue-Crossed seven people

It wasB then he lost his head, not to mention an arm or two before heE stopped

Verse 6

And heB smeared for four hundred yards, along the hill that leads into Scranton PennsylE vania

All thoseD thirtyA thousandBm pounds of baE nanas

Verse 7

You know theE man who told me, about it on the bus says itA went up the hill out ofAm Scranton PennsylE vania

HeB shrugged his shoulders, he shook hisE head, and he said, and this is exactly what he said

Outro

"Boy, it sure must've been shomethin'. Just imagine, thirty, thousand, pounds, of bananas

Yes there wereD thirtyA thousandBm pounds of mashed baE nanas

Of bananas. Of bananas. Just baF nanas. ThirtyF# thousand pounds of bananas"

Song Tabs

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Other songs by Harry Chapin