High Open Hills
View chords used in this chart
Capo 4
Intro
C (hammer E) F G Am (hammer on) F G (x3)
C (hammer E) F C (hammer E) F
C Am F C
I met him high on a hill when I was sixteen
Am F C G
And my breath it was taken by the cold August wind
C Am F C
I left school that next summer and to Melbourne we fled
Am F G C
As the sky over Mansfield turned orange and red
C G (x1)
C Am F C
I asked him where he came from, he said he wasn’t quite sure
Am F C G
He said he’d moved ‘round so often, he didn’t keep track no more
C Am F C
But he said I was the reason that he could stand still
Am F G C
And he kissed me that first time on the high open hill
[Refrão]C Am F C
See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain
Am F C G
That comes down every time I see him again
C Am F C
And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand
Am Gm F
On those high open hills of our youth
G C
Me and my traveling man
C (hammer E) F C (hammer E) F x1
C Am F C
He went off to Western Australia where the pearl fishing’s good
Am F C G
He said he’d been once to Broome and there he felt understood
C Am F C
He said I’m gonna return with a fortune untold
Am F G C
So just sit tight my darling for our future to unfold
C Am F C
He came back to me to Melbourne for a week or so
Am F C G
We were lover to lover, I didn’t want him to go
C Am F C
But with a fire in his belly and a baby in mine
Am F G C
I prayed when he’d come home it would be the last time
[Refrão]C Am F C
See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain
Am F C G
That comes down every time I see him again
C Am F C
And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand
Am Gm F
On those high open hills of our youth
G C
Me and my traveling man
C (hammer E) F G Am (hammer on) F G x1
C Am F C
I got a letter from Darwin later that month
Am F C G
He said, “I’ve found myself a lover, in fact I’ve found quite a bunch
C Am F C
The last thing I want to do is to hurt you or our boy
Am F G C
But you know all I touch I go on to destroy”
C G x1
C Am F C
He sent us some money, but soon that dried up too
Am F C G
Just like the hope in my baby’s eyes blue
C Am F C
He’d sit at the window and wait every night
Am F G C
And I prayed that that bastard would do what is right
[Refrão]C Am F C
See everything changes ‘cept for the sound of the rain
Am F C G
That comes down every time I see him again
C Am F C
And I wish for a moment that we could once more stand
Am Gm F C
On those high open hills of our youth
Am Gm F C
On those high open hills of our youth
Am Gm F
On those high open hills of our youth
G C
Me and my traveling man
C (hammer E) F G Am (hammer on) F G x3
Ooooo......
C (hammer E) F G Am (hammer on) F C x1
Ooooo......
How to play High Open Hills
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 C. 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.