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Dreams Go By

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Eminor

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Dreams Go By
Harry Chapin
Portrait Gallery (1975)
This is the album version, for the live version, transpose down 1 step. 
[Intro]
|   Em|    D|
|G|---|C|---|D|---|Em|-|Bm|Am|D|---|
 1 234 1 234 1 234 1  2  3  4 1 234
[Verse 1]
GThere you stand in your Ddungarees
Looking Emall grown up and so Dvery pleased
When you Gwrite your poems they have so Dmuch to say
When you Emspeak your dreams it takes my Dbreath away
[Pre-chorus 1]
You Cknow I want to be a ball player
A Gregular D/Aslugging EmfoolEm7  
But Cboth our dreams must Dwait awhile
UnCtil we Dfinish Gschool
[Chorus]
DAnd so Gyou and I
We watch our Cyears go by
We watch our Dsweet dreams fly
Far aEmway, but Bmmaybe Amsomeday
I Gdon't know when
But we will Cdream again
And we'll be Dhappy then
Till our Emtime just Bmdrifts aAmwayD  
[Verse 2]
TheGre you stand in your Dwedding dress
You'Emre so beautiful that DI must confess
I'm Gso proud you have choDsen me
WheEmn a doctor is what you Dwant to be
[Pre-chorus 2]
YoCu know I want to be a painter, girl
A Greal arDtistic sEmnobEm7  
BuCt I guess we'll haDve our children first
YoCu'll makDe a home, IG'll get a job
[Chorus]
ADnd so you Gand I
We'll watch our Cyears go by
We'll watch our sweeDt dreams fly
Far Emaway, but Bmmaybe somAmeday
GI don't know when
But we will drCeam again
And we'll be hDappy then
TiEmll our time jBmust drifts awaAmyD  
[Refrain]
  EmListen to the Dseasons passing
  Cadd9Listen to the Cmaj7wind blow
  EmListen to the Dchildren laughing
  Cmaj7Where do broken Cdreams Dgo?
[Verse 3]
TheGre you stand in your Dtailored suit
So mEmany years gone by, but Dyou're still so cute
We Gtake the car to go anDd meet the bus
When Emour grandchildren coDme to visit us
[Pre-chorus 3]
You Csay you should have been a ballerina, babe
TherGe are songDs I should hEmave sungEm7  
BuCt I guess our dreams Dhave come and gone
YouC've gotta dreDam when you aGre young
[Chorus]
DAnd so yoGu and I
We've watched our Cyears go by
We've watched our sDweet dreams fly
FaEmr away, but maBmybe somedaAmy
I Gdon't know when
But we will dCream again
And we'll be hDappy then
TEmill our Bmtime just drifAmts aDway

All chords in this song (10)

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Dreams Go By

by Harry Chapin

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D/A

Em7

Cadd9

Cmaj7

Dreams Go By

Harry Chapin

Portrait Gallery (1975)

This is the album version, for the live version, transpose down 1 step.

[Intro]

Em D

| | |

G C D Em Bm Am D

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

1 234 1 234 1 234 1 2 3 4 1 234

[Verse 1]

G D

There you stand in your dungarees

Em D

Looking all grown up and so very pleased

G D

When you write your poems they have so much to say

Em D

When you speak your dreams it takes my breath away

[Pre-chorus 1]

You know I want to be a ball player

G D/A Em Em7

A regular slugging fool

C D

But both our dreams must wait awhile

C D G

Until we finish school

[Chorus]

D G

And so you and I

We watch our years go by

We watch our sweet dreams fly

Em Bm Am

Far away, but maybe someday

I don't know when

But we will dream again

And we'll be happy then

Em Bm Am D

Till our time just drifts away

[Verse 2]

G D

There you stand in your wedding dress

Em D

You're so beautiful that I must confess

G D

I'm so proud you have chosen me

Em D

When a doctor is what you want to be

[Pre-chorus 2]

You know I want to be a painter, girl

G D Em Em7

A real artistic snob

C D

But I guess we'll have our children first

C D G

You'll make a home, I'll get a job

[Chorus]

D G

And so you and I

We'll watch our years go by

We'll watch our sweet dreams fly

Em Bm Am

Far away, but maybe someday

I don't know when

But we will dream again

And we'll be happy then

Em Bm Am D

Till our time just drifts away

[Refrain]

Em D

Listen to the seasons passing

Cadd9 Cmaj7

Listen to the wind blow

Em D

Listen to the children laughing

Cmaj7 C D

Where do broken dreams go?

[Verse 3]

G D

There you stand in your tailored suit

Em D

So many years gone by, but you're still so cute

G D

We take the car to go and meet the bus

Em D

When our grandchildren come to visit us

[Pre-chorus 3]

You say you should have been a ballerina, babe

G D Em Em7

There are songs I should have sung

C D

But I guess our dreams have come and gone

C D G

You've gotta dream when you are young

[Chorus]

D G

And so you and I

We've watched our years go by

We've watched our sweet dreams fly

Em Bm Am

Far away, but maybe someday

I don't know when

But we will dream again

And we'll be happy then

Em Bm Am D

Till our time just drifts away

About Dreams Go By Chords by Harry Chapin

Learn how to play Dreams Go By by Harry Chapin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dreams Go By chords”, “Dreams Go By guitar chords”, or “Harry Chapin Dreams Go By 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 Dreams Go By chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dreams Go By lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, G, C, Bm, Am.

FAQ — Dreams Go By by Harry Chapin

How do I play "Dreams Go By" by Harry Chapin on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Dreams Go By" to a different key?

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Is "Dreams Go By" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Dreams Go By" by Harry Chapin with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Harry Chapin below.

What key is "Dreams Go By" in?

The chords for "Dreams Go By" show the original chord names (including Em, D, G, C, Bm, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.