Julies Sixteenth Birthday
View chords used in this chart
Intro
G C
[Verso 1]
C
What's your hurry, Jim?
C
One more drink won't hurt nothing.
Am F
Well, okay, I said, then I gotta be running.
G
You see, my little Julie just turned 16 today.
C
And tonight she's going out on her very first date.
Am
Lord knows I never been much of a father.
F
Probably spent more time right here
G
Than I have at home with my daughter.
C
So tonight I'm making up for a lot of lost time
Am F G C
A lot of hurt feelings and a lot of broken promises.
[Refrão]
F C
For once in my life, I'm gonna do something right.
G C
I'm gonna be home for my Julie tonight.
F C
It's her 16th birthday and you know it's her first date.
G C
This is one promise that I'm not gonna break.
[Verso 2]
C
Oh, come on, have one more, Jim.
Am
You got plenty of time.
F G
But that one led to many and I lost track of the time.
C
When I looked at my watch, it was a quarter till 8.
Em
So I left in a hurry since I was already late.
F
As I got closer to I started to think
G C
Won't do me no harm to have me one more drink.
Am
So I reached for the bottle I kept under the seat.
F G
When I looked up, my whole life passed right in front of me.
C Em
Next thing I remembered, I was just coming to in a hospital bed.
F
Right then I knew that I'd caused something awful to happen last night
G
On my way home to Julie to set myself right
Interlude
C Am F G
Oooooo Ooo Oo-oo-oo-oo
[Verso 3]
C
At the foot of the bed stood my best friend Lou.
Em
He walked to my side and asked what he could do.
F
I said, Lou, I know I won't make it.
G
But don't let me die not knowing the truth
C
About what happened last night.
Am
He said, Jim, you lost control.
F G
Crossed the yellow line, hit a car head-on.
G
And Lord, I wish I was lying.
C Em
Cause a young man was injured and a lovely girl died.
F G
And I thought about that last drink and tears filled my eyes.
C Am
I said, Lou, should I pass on before she comes in
F G
Be sure and tell Julie how sorry I am for spoiling her birthday.
C Em
He said, Jim, you can save your breath.
F G N.C. C
Cause when you meet her in heaven you can tell her yourself.
[Refrão]
F C
For once in my life, I'm gonna do something right.
G C
I'm gonna be home for my Julie tonight.
F C
It's her 16th birthday and you know it's her first date.
G C
This is one promise that I'm not gonna break.
How to play Julies Sixteenth Birthday
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 G. 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.