25 Years
View chords used in this chart
Intro: F Fsus4 F C (2x)
F
If I went home tomorrow
C
I would be obliged to borrow
Bb
A thousand little things I do not need
F
My folks, they know me well
C
But surely they'd begin to tell
Bb
I love them but their words I do not heed
Gm Bb F C
I read the books then I burned their pages
Dm F C
Found the birds screaming in their cages
Bb Dm F
Where are the young voices of all ages?
Dm C Dm
I would die to hear them sing
Bb F
F
You don't have to go the lonely way
Gm
That directs your heart with sorrow
Dm Bb F
And leads your mind in disarray
F
Don't pretend that you don't know
Dm C Bb
25 years and nothing to show
F Fsus4 F C x2
F
People from my town
C
They stop to look me up and down
Bb
And say how marvelous it must be
F
They lament the lack of money
C
And cackle about some sweet, young honey
Bb
The one they're sure is chasing after me
Gm Bb F C
Then I see the change come into their faces
Dm F C
They say, "I wish I knew such splendid places"
Bb Dm F
But life's become a string of whiffs and traces
Dm C Dm
And in my head I hear them sing
Bb F
F
You don't have to go the lonely way
Gm
That directs your heart with sorrow
Dm Bb F
And leads your mind in disarray
F
Don't pretend that you don't know
Dm C Bb
25 years and nothing to show
F Fsus4 F C x2
Dm C Bb F \ x2
Dm Bb F C /
Dm C Bb F F C \ x6
Don't believe it's crumbling /
Dm C
Bb
You don't have to go the lonely way
F C Dm C
But you go there anyway
Bb C C C C
You don't have to go the lonely way, whoa
How to play 25 Years
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is F. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.