Old Friends
View chords used in this chart
A|-------------------0-|
E|---------------------|
[Verse]
D G
Red and I go way back to the start of 2nd Grade
A7
We met in the schoolyard
D
where all the games are played
D
I was It, I tagged him
G
I guess I tagged too hard
A7
He slugged me and there we were
D
rolling around the yard
D
You know we got over that
G
I don’t remember how
A7
We became the best of friends
D
That’s all that matters now
D
Red’s the only one still here
G
of all my childhood friends
A7
One by one they pass away
A D D7
Every good thing ends
[Chorus]
D7 G
Old friends (Old friends)
D
last forever
e|--2--3--5--|
B|--3--5--7--|
G|--2--------|
D A7
Old friends (Old friends)
e|--0--0--2--3--|--
B|--2--2--3--5--|--
G|--0-----------|--
D|--2-----------|--
A|--0-----------|--
E|--------------|--
A7 D
don’t fade away
e|--3--2--2--|
B|--5--3--3--|
G|--------2--|
D|--------0--|
A|--------0--|
E|-----------|
[Verse]
D
Red and I played baseball
G
We sang tenor in the choir
A7
We dated two Smith sisters
D
Living high but aiming higher
G
We were close as brothers, and then one awful day
A7
The Draft Board called his number
D Dsus4 D D9 D
and the war took Red away
D
Red came back from Viet Nam
G
a completely different man
A7
He’d seen things he didn’t
D
think I’d ever understand
D
For a couple years we seemed
G
to go our separate ways
A7
Till on tearful, beerful
D
night we remembered better days
[Chorus]
D7 G
Old friends (Old friends)
D
last forever
e|--2--3--5--|
B|--3--5--7--|
G|--2--------|
D A7
Old friends (Old friends)
e|--0--0--2--3--|--
B|--2--2--3--5--|--
G|--0-----------|--
D|--2-----------|--
A|--0-----------|--
E|--------------|--
A7 D
don’t fade away
e|--3--2--2--|
B|--5--3--3--|
G|--------2--|
D|--------0--|
A|--------0--|
E|-----------|
[Instrumental]
D A A7 D
[Verse]
D
Red’s been sinking slowly
G
We’re not young men anymore
A7 A D
Memories seem sweeter than they ever did before
D
We’re back there on that playground
G
We both remember when
A7 A
I touch him on the arm and whisper,
A D
“Tag, you’re It again,
[Outro]
(Repeat three times)
D7 G
Old friends (Old friends)
D
last forever
e|--2--3--5--|
B|--3--5--7--|
G|--2--------|
D A7
Old friends (Old friends)
e|--0--0--2--3--|--
B|--2--2--3--5--|--
G|--0-----------|--
D|--2-----------|--
A|--0-----------|--
E|--------------|--
A7 D
don’t fade away
e|--3--2--2--|
B|--5--3--3--|
G|--------2--|
D|--------0--|
A|--------0--|
E|-----------|
How to play Old Friends
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.