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I Dont Want To Wait

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From: "Charles F. Cardenas" 
          transcribed by Charles F. Cardenas
Capo on 2nd Fret
[Intro/Refrain]
ESo open up your B5morning light and
C#msay a little Asus2prayer for I.  You know that
Eif we are to stB5ay alive, then
C#msee the peace in Asus2every eye.
E-B5-C#m-Asus2  
Du du du, etc.
E-B5-C#m-Asus2  
Du du du, etc.
[Verse]
EShe had B5two babiesAsus2,
one was C#msix months, one was Asus2three
                 C#m  B5-Asus2  
in the war of forty four.
EEvery teB5lephone ringC#m, every heAsus2artbeat stinging when she
C#mthought it was B5God callinAsus2g her.  Oh, C#mwould
her son B5grow to know his Asus2father?
[Chorus]
EI don't want to B5wait for our
C#mlives to be oAsus2ver I
waC#mnt to know right nB5ow, what will it
Asus2be?
(repeat)
I don't want to wait for our lives to be over
Will it be yes, or will it be sorry?
E-B5-C#m-Asus2  
Du du du du du
E-B5-C#m-Asus2  
Du du du du du
[Verse 2]
(repeat verse 1 chords)
He showed up all wet on the rainy front step
wearing shrapnel in his skin.
And the war he saw lives inside him still.
It's so hard to be gentle and warm.
The years pass by and now he has granddaughters
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
COh, so you look at me from acrGoss the room.  You're
Cwearing your anguish Gagain. BeliCeve
me, I know the feeling; it
sEmucks you inAsus2to the jaws of B5anger.
COh, so breathe a little more deepGly, my love.  All we
Dhave is this very momCentC  
Cand I don't want to do what Ghis father and hCis father and
Ghis father did.  I want to be here noAsus2w.
[Intro]
[Intro]
end on Asus2  

All chords in this song (8)

The story behind the song

"I Don't Want To Wait" captures a deep desire to live fully in the present, to embrace life's journey without delay. It speaks to the urgency of seizing the moment, whether it's about personal growth or the unfolding of a family story, as suggested by lines about "two babies" and a father's path. This song, from Paula Cole's acclaimed 1996 album This Fire, became widely known as the theme for the television show Dawson's Creek. At its heart, it's an anthem for impatience in the best sense: a refusal to postpone joy and experience.

AI-written from these sources:Paula Cole — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

I Dont Want To Wait

I Dont Want To Wait

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I Dont Want To Wait

by Paula Cole

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

C#m

Asus2

From: "Charles F. Cardenas"

transcribed by Charles F. Cardenas

Capo on 2nd Fret

[Intro/Refrain]

E B5

So open up your morning light and

C#m Asus2

say a little prayer for I. You know that

E B5

if we are to stay alive, then

C#m Asus2

see the peace in every eye.

E B5 C#m Asus2

---

Du du du, etc.

E B5 C#m Asus2

---

Du du du, etc.

[Verse]

E B5 Asus2

She had two babies,

C#m Asus2

one was six months, one was three

C#m B5 Asus2

in the war of forty four.

E B5 C#m Asus2

Every telephone ring, every heartbeat stinging when she

C#m B5 Asus2 C#m

thought it was God calling her. Oh, would

B5 Asus2

her son grow to know his father?

[Chorus]

E B5

I don't want to wait for our

C#m Asus2

lives to be over I

C#m B5

want to know right now, what will it

Asus2

be?

(repeat)

I don't want to wait for our lives to be over

Will it be yes, or will it be sorry?

E B5 C#m Asus2

---

Du du du du du

E B5 C#m Asus2

---

Du du du du du

[Verse 2]

(repeat verse 1 chords)

He showed up all wet on the rainy front step

wearing shrapnel in his skin.

And the war he saw lives inside him still.

It's so hard to be gentle and warm.

The years pass by and now he has granddaughters

[Chorus]

[Bridge]

C G

Oh, so you look at me from across the room. You're

C G C

wearing your anguish again. Believe

me, I know the feeling; it

Em Asus2 B5

sucks you into the jaws of anger.

C G

Oh, so breathe a little more deeply, my love. All we

D C C

have is this very moment

C G C

and I don't want to do what his father and his father and

G Asus2

his father did. I want to be here now.

[Intro]

Asus2

end on

About I Dont Want To Wait Chords by Paula Cole

Learn how to play I Dont Want To Wait by Paula Cole with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Dont Want To Wait chords”, “I Dont Want To Wait guitar chords”, or “Paula Cole I Dont Want To Wait 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 I Dont Want To Wait chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Dont Want To Wait lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, E, B5, C#m, Asus2, C.

FAQ — I Dont Want To Wait by Paula Cole

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What key is "I Dont Want To Wait" in?

The chords for "I Dont Want To Wait" show the original chord names (including F, E, B5, C#m, Asus2, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.