Matthew - John Denver
View chords used in this chart
VERSE 1:
 
G Am D G
I had an uncle name of Matthew...he was his father's only boy
Am D G
Born just south of Colby, Kansas...he was his mother's pride and joy
 
CHORUS:
G C Am
Yes, and joy was just the thing he was raised on
D G C G
Love was just a way to live and die
C Am
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field
D C G
Blue was just a Kansas summer sky
 
VERSE 2:
Am D G
And all the stories that he told me back when I was just a lad
Am D G
All the memories that he gave me...all the good times that he had
Am D G
Growin' up a Kansas farmboy...life was mostly havin' fun
Am D G
Ridin' on his daddy's shoulders behind a mule, beneath the sun
 
CHORUS:
 
Am D G
Well, I guess there were some hard times and I'm told some years were lean
Am D G
They had a storm in '47...twister came and stripped 'em clean
Am D G
He lost the farm and lost his family...he lost the wheat, he lost his home
Am D G
But he found the family bible and faith as solid as a stone
 
CHORUS
 
Am D G
So he came to live at our house...and he came to work the land
Am D G
He came to ease my daddy's burdens and he came to be my friend
Am D G
So I wrote this down for Matthew...it's for him this song is sung
Am D G
Ridin' on his daddy's shoulders behind a mule, beneath the sun
 
CHORUS: repeat twice

How to play Matthew

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.

More chords by John Denver

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