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Tell Me

Chords

4.413 votes

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KeyOriginal

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

D Hm D Hm
DWhy plant a seed deep in tAhe groundD  
DWhy whGy whyD  
DWhy put a stone on a grave in toAwnD  
DWhy whGy whyD  
DTell me, tell me, tell mGeD  
Tell me why it's soA  
DTell me, tell me, tell mGeD  
Tell me so I'll knowA  
DWhy does a wedding ring have the hardesAt stoneD  
DWhy whGy whyD  
DWhy does a little dog bury its boAneD  
DWhy whGy whyD  
So the Emriver will not drown iAt
So the highDway won't take itHm  
And the duEmst will not cover itA  
And the sun Dwill not blind itHm  
And the wind Emwon't blow it awAayD  
Why put a song bird in a cage
Why write i love you on every page
Tell me why it's so
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me so I'll know
Why does a bird build its nest so high
Why hold a baby when a baby cries
So the river will not drown it
So the highway won't take it
And the dust will not cover it
And the sun will not blind it
And the wind won't blow it away
So the river will not drown it
So the highway won't take it
And the dust will not cover it
And the sun will not blind it
And the wind won't blow it away

All chords in this song (5)

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Tell Me

by Tom Waits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D Hm D Hm

D A D

Why plant a seed deep in the ground

D G D

Why why why

D A D

Why put a stone on a grave in town

D G D

Why why why

D G D

Tell me, tell me, tell me

Tell me why it's so

D G D

Tell me, tell me, tell me

Tell me so I'll know

D A D

Why does a wedding ring have the hardest stone

D G D

Why why why

D A D

Why does a little dog bury its bone

D G D

Why why why

Em A

So the river will not drown it

D Hm

So the highway won't take it

Em A

And the dust will not cover it

D Hm

And the sun will not blind it

Em A D

And the wind won't blow it away

Why put a song bird in a cage

Why write i love you on every page

Tell me why it's so

Tell me, tell me, tell me

Tell me so I'll know

Why does a bird build its nest so high

Why hold a baby when a baby cries

So the river will not drown it

So the highway won't take it

And the dust will not cover it

And the sun will not blind it

And the wind won't blow it away

So the river will not drown it

So the highway won't take it

And the dust will not cover it

And the sun will not blind it

And the wind won't blow it away

About Tell Me Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play Tell Me by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tell Me chords”, “Tell Me guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits Tell Me 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 Tell Me chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tell Me lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Hm, A, G, Em.

FAQ — Tell Me by Tom Waits

How do I play "Tell Me" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Tell Me" by Tom Waits 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 "Tell Me" by Tom Waits free?

Yes. The chords for "Tell Me" by Tom Waits are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Tell Me" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Tell Me"?

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

Is "Tell Me" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Tell Me" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "Tell Me" in?

The chords for "Tell Me" show the original chord names (including D, Hm, A, G, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.