Is Free Chord Book really free?

Yes. Free Chord Book is 100% free with no sign-up required. Access 670,000+ guitar chords, tabs, and lyrics for every song you want to learn.

How do I transpose chords to a different key?

Open any song and use the transpose buttons to move every chord up or down by half-steps. Perfect for singers who need a different key or capo players.

Can I see chord diagrams while I play?

Yes. Tap any chord in a song to instantly see its interactive guitar chord diagram, including alternate fingerings and variations.

What's the difference between guitar chords and guitar tabs?

Chords show you which strings to strum together (great for rhythm playing and singing). Tabs (tablature) show you exact note-by-note fingerings, which is great for solos, riffs, and fingerpicking.

Does Free Chord Book work on mobile?

Yes. Free Chord Book is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. Use auto-scroll to play hands-free. There is also a free iPhone app (The Chord Book) and Android app (Free Chords).

Is there an iPhone or Android app?

Yes. Download The Chord Book on the Apple App Store and Free Chords on Google Play. Same 670,000+ songs, transpose, tuner, and auto-scroll — 100% free.

Can I print guitar chords?

Yes. Open any song and tap the Print button next to Save. You'll get a branded chord sheet with the Chord Book logo, ready for practice.

Is there a built-in guitar tuner?

Yes. Free Chord Book includes a free online guitar tuner that uses your microphone and YIN pitch detection for accurate tuning in standard and alternate tunings.

How many songs are available?

Over 670,000 songs with chords, tabs, and lyrics — covering every genre, from rock and pop to country, indie, folk, and Hebrew songs.

Is Free Chord Book a good alternative to Ultimate Guitar?

Yes. Free Chord Book is a fast, ad-free, 100% free alternative to Ultimate Guitar with interactive chord diagrams, instant transpose, auto-scroll, and a built-in tuner — no account required.

SavedFavorites

What Is Truth

Chords

4.826 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Intro:
|          E|          A|  C#7  B7|          E|
|          E|          E|
The old Eman turned off the radio,
ASaid, "Where did all of the old songs go?
     F#Kids sure play funny music these days,
     B7And they play it in the strangest ways."
     ESaid, "It looks to me like they've all gone wild.
     AIt was peaceful back when I was a child."
Well, manF#, could it be that the the girls and boys
Are tryB7in' to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely Evoice of youth cries,        A"What is B7truth?"E  
A liEttle boy of three sittin' on the floor
ALooks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
     F#"Son, that's when people fight and die."
A liB7ttle boy of three says, "Daddy, why?"
A yoEung man of seventeen in Sunday school,
     ABein' taught the golden rule.
And by the time anF#other year has gone around,
It may be hB7is turn to lay his life down.
Can you Eblame the voice of youth for askingA,        "What is truth?B7"E  
Interlude:
|          E|          A|  C#7  B7|          E|
|          E|          E|
A yoEung man sittin' on the witness stand.
The man Awith the book says, "Raise your hand.
Re-peaF#t after me. I solemnly swear."
The man B7looked down at his long hair.
And althEough the young man solemnly swore,
      ANobody seemed to hear anymore.
And it didnF#'t really matter if the truth was there,
It was the B7cut of his clothes and the length of his hair.
And the lonelEy voice of youth cries,         A"What is B7truth?"E  
Interlude:
|          E|          A|  C#7  B7|          E|
|          E|          E|
EA young girl dancin' to the latest beat
Has founAd new ways to move her feet.
A yoF#ung man speakin' in the city square
Is tB7ryin' to tell somebody that he cares.
      EYeah, the ones that you're callin' wild
Are gonAna be the leaders in a little while.
This old F#world's wakin' to a newborn day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way.B7  
You better help thEat voice of youth find            Awhat is B7truth.E  
And the lonely voice of youth cries,          A"What is B7truth?"E  

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

This song is a protest, offering a rare voice in country music at the time to criticize the Vietnam War and the generation gap. It speaks to the themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption often found in Johnny Cash's work. Playing this song channels a spirit of questioning and a search for deeper understanding.

AI-written from these sources:What Is Truth — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 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

What Is Truth

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#7

Intro:

E A C#7 B7 E

| | | | |

E E

| | |

The old man turned off the radio,

Said, "Where did all of the old songs go?

Kids sure play funny music these days,

And they play it in the strangest ways."

Said, "It looks to me like they've all gone wild.

It was peaceful back when I was a child."

Well, man, could it be that the the girls and boys

Are tryin' to be heard above your noise?

E A B7 E

And the lonely voice of youth cries, "What is truth?"

A little boy of three sittin' on the floor

Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"

"Son, that's when people fight and die."

A little boy of three says, "Daddy, why?"

A young man of seventeen in Sunday school,

Bein' taught the golden rule.

And by the time another year has gone around,

It may be his turn to lay his life down.

E A B7 E

Can you blame the voice of youth for asking, "What is truth?"

Interlude:

E A C#7 B7 E

| | | | |

E E

| | |

A young man sittin' on the witness stand.

The man with the book says, "Raise your hand.

Re-peat after me. I solemnly swear."

The man looked down at his long hair.

And although the young man solemnly swore,

Nobody seemed to hear anymore.

And it didn't really matter if the truth was there,

It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair.

E A B7 E

And the lonely voice of youth cries, "What is truth?"

Interlude:

E A C#7 B7 E

| | | | |

E E

| | |

A young girl dancin' to the latest beat

Has found new ways to move her feet.

A young man speakin' in the city square

Is tryin' to tell somebody that he cares.

Yeah, the ones that you're callin' wild

Are gonna be the leaders in a little while.

This old world's wakin' to a newborn day

And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way.

E A B7 E

You better help that voice of youth find what is truth.

A B7 E

And the lonely voice of youth cries, "What is truth?"

About What Is Truth Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play What Is Truth by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “What Is Truth chords”, “What Is Truth guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash What Is Truth 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 What Is Truth chords and for experienced players who want accurate What Is Truth lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A, C#7, B7, F#.

FAQ — What Is Truth by Johnny Cash

How do I play "What Is Truth" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "What Is Truth" by Johnny Cash 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 chords for "What Is Truth" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "What Is Truth" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "What Is Truth" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "What Is Truth"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "What Is Truth" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "What Is Truth" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "What Is Truth" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "What Is Truth" in?

The chords for "What Is Truth" show the original chord names (including E, A, C#7, B7, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.