Olly Olly Oxen Free
View chords used in this chart
G
So, you wanted
D
That's what you get for wanting
You got it
Em
That's what you get for getting
Forgotten
B
You're gardening a rotting bed
Of raygun-era icons
G
So
Let's start it
Let's start it
D
From the minute you felt it
Em
You felt it like a prison
A panic, you felt it
B
Like that coffee scene
From Moscow on the Hudson
G
So
...Be honest
D
It's not as if you're happy about it
Em
It's not as if you're animatronic
C
It's not as if you couldn't
Cry out any time you wanted
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
All the people you will never be
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
Olly olly olly olly
Olly olly olly olly
G
Fate
You call it
You color it
D
The color you want it
You carpet it
Em
That's awful convenient
B
You paint yourself a nice white room
With stripes and matching curtains
G
So
You forfeit
D
You cannot build a river across it
Em
You cannot hold your own heart hostage
C
You do not have the strength
To gag yourself in every closet
G
The wrong place, wrong mind
Timing's always bad
D
You're such a sad case
Misplaced renaissance
Em
Inventor of a worldwide
Heartbreak, taking it in stride
C
'Cause you're an expert
Aren't you?
Aren't you just a dime a dozen?
G
Murderous monosyllabic moron
With no sense of purpose
D
Working on your songs all night
To justify your worthlessness
Em
To anyone who's watching
If they only saw your alter egos
C
Pretty in the shop windows
Where you got auctioned hours ago
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
All the people you will never be
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
olly olly olly olly
Higher than the king can
C
See no evil, hear no evil
D
Capture me and throw the key
C
See no evil, hear no evil
D
Capture me and throw the key away
Throw the key away
G
So
It's over
D
You're lying in a coffin of clutter
Em
Your father and your sister, your drummer
B
Are sorting through your Soft Cell tapes
G
And lifesaver collection, and you wonder
D
You wonder if you could've done better
Em
You wonder if you should've surrendered
Before you learned that
C
Nobody actually wants a fucking martyr
C
Didn't you, didn't you, didn't
Didn't you see?
D
Didn't you, didn't you, didn't
Didn't you see?
C
Didn't you, didn't you, didn't
Didn't you see me?
D
Didn't you, didn't you, didn't
Didn't you see me?
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
All the people you will never be
C
Olly olly oxen free
D
olly olly olly olly
Higher than the king can
C
See no evil, hear no evil
D
Capture me and throw the key
C
See no evil, hear no evil
D
Capture me and throw the key away
C
Throw the key away
D
Throw the key away
How to play Olly Olly Oxen Free
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.