The Way It Had To Be
View chords used in this chart
Intro D#
G G7 C Am G D G C#
D C#m G#m7 G
C#m F#7 C#m F#7
C#m F#7
It might have been the maybe
C#m F#7
That crept inside my mind
F#m C4 C
It might have been the echoes of my heart
F#m C4 C
Sending shivers down my spine
C#m F#7
Soon you'll be pushin' daisies
C#m F#7
Then it'll be unclear
F#m C4 C
And it's too late for all your might have beens
F#m C4
And there's a reason you were here
C
Yeah, yeah
D7
There you are
C#m7
Free and feeling so sublime you
D7
Light up the dark
A E
Like sparks in summertime
D7
So much has changed
C#m7
The past has brought you here
G#m7
Can't you see?
G
It's the way it had to be
Solo C#m7 F# C#m7 F#7
C#m F#7
Innocence and danger
C#m F#7
Made you feel so alone
F#m C4 C
There you stood Inside the wreckage of your dreams
F#m C
Barely able to make it home
D7
There you are
C#m7
Free and feeling so sublime you
D7
Light up the dark
A E
Like sparks in summertime
D7
So much has changed
C#m7
And it's all part of how you got free
G
It's the way it had to be
( C#m7 F#7 C#m7 F# )
D A
Open my eyes
G
There's a moment you can know
D
So far from here below
D A
Leave this behind
G#7(4)
And believe
G#7
You've arrived You have arrived
( C#m7 F#7 C#m7 F#7 )
( F#m7 B F#m7 B )
D
There you are
C#m7
Free and feeling so sublime you
D
Light up the dark
E
Like sparks in summertime
D
So much has changed
C#m G#m7 G7
And it's all part of you getting free
C#m7 F#7
It's the way it had to be
C#m7 F#
The way it had to be
C#m7 F#
It's the way it had to be
C#m7 F#
The way it had to be
Final C#m7 F#7 C#m7 F#7
C#m7 F#7 C#m7 F#
How to play The Way It Had To Be
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 D#. 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.