How Will I Ever Be Simple Again
View chords used in this chart
This is my variation. I left out the solo. I fingerpick, but not at Mr. Thompson's level. :).
The top part is the usual lyrics +
chords. See tab for variation on chord formation.
A D A
She danced in the street with the guns all around her
A E
All torn like a rag doll barefoot in the rain
A D A
She sang like a child to-ra-day-to-ra-da-dee
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
A D A
She sat on the banks of the dirty gray river
A E
And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin
A D A
There was nothing but fever and ghosts in that water
A E A A A/B A/C
Oh how will I ever be simple again
D A
War was my love my friend and companion
D A E
What did I care for the pretty and plain
A D A
Her smile was so clear and my heart was so troubled
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
Solo
A D A
In her poor burned out house I sat by her table
A E
The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May
A D A
I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from trying
A E A A/A/ A/B A/C
Oh how will I ever be simple again
D A
How graceful she moved in the dust and the ruins
D A E
How happy she was in her dances and games
A D A
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes love
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
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She danced in the streets with the
A CHORD
| |-----|------|------|-----|--4---|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
With the guns all
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Around her
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
All torn like a rag doll
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Barefoot in the rain
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
She sang like a child to-ra-
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
day- to-ra-da-
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
dee Oh how will I ever
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Simple
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Again
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
2nd verse same as the first, except for walk-up (below) going into bridge
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|---3--|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
BRIDGE What did I care for the
D CHORD
| |-----|---3---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--2---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
The pretty and
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Plain
E CHORD (Arpeggio E chord with harmonic at 12th fret after arpeggio
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Her smile was so clear etc. uses chord structure as shown in verses
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Next verse and bridge same as the first EXCEPT for last A chord, fingered as shown,
(4th finger at 5th fret)finishes with a harmonic at 17th fret.
How to play How Will I Ever Be Simple Again
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 A. 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.