Now playing

True Story

Chords

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

This can be played strummed but sounds nice with just about any finger-picking pattern. 
These are the chords in standard tuning, I believe he plays with a capo on the second 
fret. After each verse he stops his finger-picking and plays a tiny pattern (I'll call it "riff")-
 RIFF:
||---------------------|
||0-------0/1----0-----|
||---------------0-----|
||--------0------------|
||2--------------2-----|
||------3--------------|
GRolled on out of BMotown Cback in '9G1
GLeft them bitter Emwinters for the D7Florida summer Dsun
GBreakin' hearts in G7theme parks
C          Cm                G            D7
         G(riff)
Smiled for anyone who held a camera to my face and said "Say cheese!"
GWound up on the Btelly With a Ctwinkle in my Geye
GTwinkle disaEmppeared the night I sD7tarted gettin' Dhigh
GAnd everything seemed G7so absurd
CUntil the night I fCminally heard the Gsound of Coltrane
                  D7   G(riff)
It brought me to my knees
CHORUS
There's a Dlong drive straight through the Cnight
Starin' out the Gwindow Lookin' for the D7first signs of daylight
Just Ghold on tight With Call of your might
                        G                D7   G(riff)
See it takes the time it takes to get it right
So I Gpeddled across the Bcountry Wound up Chere in HollyGwood
GLeft my high school Emsweetheart when I D7realized I Dcould
GShe became a G7movie star
     C                Cm              G
               D7   G(riff)
I've took to sleepin' in my car Still singin' songs about her to this day
GDrove myself to BNew York City CChasin' love Gagain
GShe moved me to Emtears and then I D7wound up movin' Din
GThat Apple got the G7best of me
   C               Cm               G
           D7   G(riff)
So I packed up the rest of me And I grabbed a cab, said "Straight to JFK!"
CHORUS
There's a Dlong drive straight through the Cnight
Starin' out the Gwindow Lookin' for the D7first signs of daylight
Just Ghold on tight With Call of your might
                        G                D7   G(riff)
See it takes the time it takes to get it right
GNow I'm back in BHollywood This Cguitar in my Ghand
These Gdays I'm only Emusing words that D7I can underDstand
GSingin' songs, I'll G7carry on
     C               Cm                 G        D7
             G(riff)
Keep at it until I'm dead and gone Then maybe my gravestone will say
CHORUS
There's a Dlong drive straight through the Cnight
Starin' out the Gwindow Lookin' for the D7first signs of daylight
Just Ghold on tight With Call of your might
                        G                D7   G(riff)
See it takes the time it takes to get it right
See it Gtakes the time it D7takes to get it Gright (Third time's the charm)
                             G                D7   G(riff)
They say it takes the time it takes to get it right
First tab, so feel free to let me know if I made any mistakes!

All chords in this song (8)

🎸 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

True Story

by Tony Lucca

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

Chords in this song · guitar

This can be played strummed but sounds nice with just about any finger-picking pattern.

These are the chords in standard tuning, I believe he plays with a capo on the second

fret. After each verse he stops his finger-picking and plays a tiny pattern (I'll call it "riff")-

RIFF:

||---------------------|

||0-------0/1----0-----|

||---------------0-----|

||--------0------------|

||2--------------2-----|

||------3--------------|

G B C G

Rolled on out of Motown back in '91

G Em D7 D

Left them bitter winters for the Florida summer sun

G G7

Breakin' hearts in theme parks

C Cm G D7

(riff)

Smiled for anyone who held a camera to my face and said "Say cheese!"

G B C G

Wound up on the telly With a twinkle in my eye

G Em D7 D

Twinkle disappeared the night I started gettin' high

G G7

And everything seemed so absurd

C Cm G

Until the night I finally heard the sound of Coltrane

D7 G

(riff)

It brought me to my knees

CHORUS

D C

There's a long drive straight through the night

G D7

Starin' out the window Lookin' for the first signs of daylight

G C

Just hold on tight With all of your might

G D7 G

(riff)

See it takes the time it takes to get it right

G B C G

So I peddled across the country Wound up here in Hollywood

G Em D7 D

Left my high school sweetheart when I realized I could

G G7

She became a movie star

C Cm G

D7 G

(riff)

I've took to sleepin' in my car Still singin' songs about her to this day

G B C G

Drove myself to New York City Chasin' love again

G Em D7 D

She moved me to tears and then I wound up movin' in

G G7

That Apple got the best of me

C Cm G

D7 G

(riff)

So I packed up the rest of me And I grabbed a cab, said "Straight to JFK!"

CHORUS

D C

There's a long drive straight through the night

G D7

Starin' out the window Lookin' for the first signs of daylight

G C

Just hold on tight With all of your might

G D7 G

(riff)

See it takes the time it takes to get it right

G B C G

Now I'm back in Hollywood This guitar in my hand

G Em D7 D

These days I'm only using words that I can understand

G G7

Singin' songs, I'll carry on

C Cm G D7

(riff)

Keep at it until I'm dead and gone Then maybe my gravestone will say

CHORUS

D C

There's a long drive straight through the night

G D7

Starin' out the window Lookin' for the first signs of daylight

G C

Just hold on tight With all of your might

G D7 G

(riff)

See it takes the time it takes to get it right

G D7 G

See it takes the time it takes to get it right (Third time's the charm)

G D7 G

(riff)

They say it takes the time it takes to get it right

First tab, so feel free to let me know if I made any mistakes!

About True Story Chords by Tony Lucca

Learn how to play True Story by Tony Lucca with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “True Story chords”, “True Story guitar chords”, or “Tony Lucca True Story 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 True Story chords and for experienced players who want accurate True Story lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, B, C, Em, D7, D.

FAQ — True Story by Tony Lucca

How do I play "True Story" by Tony Lucca on guitar?

Open the free chords for "True Story" by Tony Lucca 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 "True Story" by Tony Lucca free?

Yes. The chords for "True Story" by Tony Lucca are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "True Story" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "True Story"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "True Story" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "True Story" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "True Story" by Tony Lucca with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tony Lucca below.

What key is "True Story" in?

The chords for "True Story" show the original chord names (including G, B, C, Em, D7, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.