Now playing

The Sad Café

Chords

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Gbmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

From "Natural History"(2011)
This song was originally included on The Long Run (1979) by the Eagles.
Compared to that, this version has a much softer tone.
[Intro]
F#add2(A.Guitar Only)
N.C.
C#(Band In)
[Chorus 1]
 F#Out in the Bmshiny night
The C#rain was softly F#falling
F#The tracks that ran down the Bmboulevard
Had C#all been washed F#awayF#sus4/B  
F#And out of the Bm6silver light
The C#past came softly F#callingF#sus4/C#  
F#And I remember the Bm6times we spent
InC#side the Sad CaF#add2feF#sus4  
[Chorus 2]
F#Oh, it seemed like a Bm6holy place
ProC#tected by amF#sus4azing graceF#sus4/B  
F#sus2And we would sing righBm6t out loud
The C#things we could not F#sayF#sus4  
F#We thought we could Bm6change this world
With C#words like 'love' and 'F#freedom'F#sus4/C#  
F#We were part of the Bm6lonely crowd
InC#side the Sad CafF#sus2eC#  
[Pre-Chorus]
D#mOh,      D#m9expecting to A#m7fly
We would D#mmeet A#m/D#on      F#/D#that   F#/D#beau---A#m/D#ti-----C#/D#ful  sD#mhore
In the sweet C#by and byC#9  C#  
[Chorus 3]
F#Some of their Bmdreams came true
C#Some just passed aF#wayF#sus4/C#  
F#And some of them Bmstay beBm(add9)hind
InC#side the Sad CaF#fe
[Bridge]
And the C#sus4clouds roll C#in
and G#m7hid that sC#hore
And G#m7now that gC#lory train
It G#m7don't stop here no C#more
Bsus4Now that I look at the Byears gone by
And Bsus4wonder at the powers that BbeB/C  
C#sus4I don't know why fortune C#smiles on some
And C#sus4let's the rest go C#fre---
[Interlude] (Flugelhorn Solo)
--F#eDaug  Bm/D  C#  F#  
(A.Piano Solo)
F#   Daug Bm/D  C#   F#
F#   Daug Bm/D  C#   F#
(Flugelhorn Solo)
F#   Daug Bm/D  C#   F#
[Chorus 4]
 F#So maybe the Bmtime has drawn
 C#The faces I reF#callF#/C#  
F#But things in this life change vBmery slowly
If they C#ever change at F#allF#/C#  
F#There's no use in Bm6asking why
It just tC#urned out that F#wayF#sus4/B  
 F#So meet me at Daugmidnight, baby
InC#side the Sad CaF#fe
F#Why don't you meet me at mF#aug/Bidnight, baby
F#sus2/C#Inside the Sad Cafe?
[Outro]
F# Bm6
F#sus2

All chords in this song (24)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Sad Café

by J.D. Souther

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#add2

F#sus4/B

Bm6

F#sus4/C#

F#sus4

F#sus2

D#m

D#m9

A#m7

A#m/D#

F#/D#

C#/D#

C#9

Bm(add9)

C#sus4

G#m7

Bsus4

B/C

Daug

Bm/D

From "Natural History"(2011)

This song was originally included on The Long Run (1979) by the Eagles.

Compared to that, this version has a much softer tone.

[Intro]

F#add2

(A.Guitar Only)

N.C.

(Band In)

[Chorus 1]

F# Bm

Out in the shiny night

C# F#

The rain was softly falling

F# Bm

The tracks that ran down the boulevard

C# F# F#sus4/B

Had all been washed away

F# Bm6

And out of the silver light

C# F# F#sus4/C#

The past came softly calling

F# Bm6

And I remember the times we spent

C# F#add2 F#sus4

Inside the Sad Cafe

[Chorus 2]

F# Bm6

Oh, it seemed like a holy place

C# F#sus4 F#sus4/B

Protected by amazing grace

F#sus2 Bm6

And we would sing right out loud

C# F# F#sus4

The things we could not say

F# Bm6

We thought we could change this world

C# F# F#sus4/C#

With words like 'love' and 'freedom'

F# Bm6

We were part of the lonely crowd

C# F#sus2 C#

Inside the Sad Cafe

[Pre-Chorus]

D#m D#m9 A#m7

Oh, expecting to fly

D#m A#m/D# F#/D# F#/D# A#m/D# C#/D# D#m

We would meet on that beau---ti-----ful shore

C# C#9 C#

In the sweet by and by

[Chorus 3]

F# Bm

Some of their dreams came true

C# F# F#sus4/C#

Some just passed away

F# Bm Bm(add9)

And some of them stay behind

C# F#

Inside the Sad Cafe

[Bridge]

C#sus4 C#

And the clouds roll in

G#m7 C#

and hid that shore

G#m7 C#

And now that glory train

G#m7 C#

It don't stop here no more

Bsus4 B

Now that I look at the years gone by

Bsus4 B B/C

And wonder at the powers that be

C#sus4 C#

I don't know why fortune smiles on some

C#sus4 C#

And let's the rest go fre---

[Interlude] (Flugelhorn Solo)

F# Daug Bm/D C# F#

--e

(A.Piano Solo)

F# Daug Bm/D C# F#

(Flugelhorn Solo)

F# Daug Bm/D C# F#

[Chorus 4]

F# Bm

So maybe the time has drawn

C# F# F#/C#

The faces I recall

F# Bm

But things in this life change very slowly

C# F# F#/C#

If they ever change at all

F# Bm6

There's no use in asking why

C# F# F#sus4/B

It just turned out that way

F# Daug

So meet me at midnight, baby

C# F#

Inside the Sad Cafe

F# F#aug/B

Why don't you meet me at midnight, baby

F#sus2/C#

Inside the Sad Cafe?

[Outro]

F# Bm6

F#sus2

About The Sad Café Tab by J.D. Souther

Learn how to play The Sad Café by J.D. Souther with free guitar tab, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Sad Café chords”, “The Sad Café guitar chords”, or “J.D. Souther The Sad Café chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Sad Café chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Sad Café lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#add2, A, C, C#, F#, Bm.

FAQ — The Sad Café by J.D. Souther

How do I play "The Sad Café" by J.D. Souther on guitar?

Open the free tab for "The Sad Café" by J.D. Souther on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the tab for "The Sad Café" by J.D. Souther free?

Yes. The tab for "The Sad Café" by J.D. Souther are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Sad Café" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Sad Café" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Sad Café"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Sad Café" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Sad Café" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Sad Café" by J.D. Souther with our free tab. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by J.D. Souther below.

What key is "The Sad Café" in?

The tab for "The Sad Café" show the original chord names (including F#add2, A, C, C#, F#, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.