After I Am Gone
View chords used in this chart
Em D Em D
[Verso 1]
Em
You don't call me anymore
D
You just say you're busy
C
I see you laughing weird in the world
D
But you don't make time for me
Em D
You walk past everything I gave like it was nothing at all
C
I gave you my whole life
D
You can't give me one call
Am A5 Em C
I'm still your father, why do I feel erased? Yeah, I had flaws
D
Yeah, I got loud
A5
But I never once walked out
{Refrain}
Em
After I'm gone, you'll feel this pain
D
Every ignore, text, every misname
C
When the wood hits dirt and the crowd goes home
D
You finally understand what it means to be alone
Em
You'll say you love me, you'll cry on cue
D
But love shows up
C
Why didn't you? I was here
D Em
I was breathing, you just stopped believing
[Verso 2]
D
And I was sick, you didn't know, and I was weak
C
You didn't show, you never asked if I was okay
D
You never missed me enough to stay
Em
I waited for you, you never came
D
Now I'm just a fading name
C D
I told myself you'd come around, but hope gets quiet without a sound
C
After I'm gone, you'll wish you tried
D Em
You'll replay nights you let me cry, you'll stand there shaking
D
Hands in regret, wishing you could undo what you chose to forget
C
You'll say you love me
D
Maybe you did, but love isn't words, it's what you'll give
Em D
Jesus forgives, I hope he does, because one day you'll answer for us
C D Em D
And he'll ask you simple and plain, why you never came?
{Refrain}
Em
After I'm gone, don't tell the crowd
D C
You were proud, don't post my picture, don't say my name
D
If you couldn't show up while I felt the pain
Em
And I was here, I was alive
D
You just thought I had more time
C
After I'm gone, you'll finally see
D
You didn't lose me, you abandoned me
{Solo}
Em D C D
Em D C D C Em
C
Interlude
Em
My hands bled just for you, I work until they shook
C D
I missed my own dreams so you could chase the ones you took
Am
I stood outside in the cold so you could sleep in worm light
Em
I swallowed every fear just to keep you all right
No I sit alone in a house I build for us
D
You pass my name in silence like I'm someone you don't trust
Am
You left me here waiting
Em
You don't even try
C
Yeah, I made mistakes
D
I wasn't easy to love
C
But I never stopeed showing up
D
I never gave up
{Refrain}
Em
After I'm gone, when the wood hits dirt
C
When the sound of goodbye finally starts to hurt
D
You'll wish you came
Am
You wish you stayed, you replay every call you never made
Em
You say you love me, you swear you cared
C
But love shows up and you weren't there
D
I was here, I was alive
Am Em
You just thought I had more time
C
[Verso 3]
Em
When I fell down, you never found me
D
When I needed you, you weren't around me
A
I watched your life move on so fast, while I was stuck inside the past
Em
I kept the porch light on at night
I told myself you make it right,
C
but hope gets tired
D
And so do I,
C D
you left me behind and called it a lie,
C
you didn't mean to hurt me
D C D
That's what you say, but not meaning to, still hurts this way
{Refrain}
Em
After I'm gone
C
Standing by my grave you'll cry for the time, you never gave
D
You'll touch that stone, you'll say my name
Am
But it won't answer, it won't be the same
Em
You'll beg for one more chance to call
C D
Silence won't answer, it all, Jesus forgives, I tried it too
Am
But even he knows, love has to move
C D
One day you'll stand before him alone
Am
And he'll ask you why you never came home
{Solo}
Em C D Am
{Refrain}
Em
After I'm gone, when the dirt falls down
C
When they lowered me slow into the ground
D Am
That's when you'll feel what you denied, I was still here
Em
But you left me slide, I was your father, I needed you
C
Not your money, just something true
D Am
After I'm gone, the grave will stay longer than I ever did
Em C
Waiting for you that way
Em C D
Waiting for you that way
How to play After I Am Gone
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 Em. 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.