Intro: D5 E5 G5 A5  |  2x 
 
      G5          D5          E5          D5        
I was ten, I was thin, I was playing first base  
       G5         D5       E5         A5 
with a secondhand glove and dirt on my face 
   G5         D5 
In nowhere, Virginia 
E5         D5        C5          G5          A5 
Who'd ever figure that kid in the yard would go very far 
       G5   D5           E5       A5 
It was 419 Lakewood , had no silverspoons 
        G5          D5          E5            A5 
Just an old beat up upright that played out of tune 
        G5          D5        E5        A5 
Now I'm singin' and living the life that I love 
         C5          G5                       A5 
And when I count my blessings I thank God I was  
    D5       E5 G5 A5 
An American child 
    D5       E5 G5 A5 
An American child 
       B5               A5 
'Cause dreams can grow wild  
       G5        A5     D5 
Born inside an American child 
 
Seven pounds, three ounces, she's got my nose 

And she's into my heart as deep as it goes 

With a promise that's more than just someone's last name 

Anyone's equal, in late August came 

An American child 
 
(Chorus) 
 
Instrumental:
  B5 F#5 E5 A5 

               B5 F#5 E5 A5 

               B5 F#5 E5 A5 

               D5 G5 A5 
(Bridge) 
   B5          F5               C5      F5 
My grandfather would have been eighty today 
    B5        A5                    D5       E5 G5 A5 
But in '45 he fell down beside an American child 
 
(Chorus)