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Hello Goodbye

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Bmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

He plays the entire thing with bar chords, so B on 7th and F# on 2th. E is played as an ordinary E.
Intro:
B
BYoung James EMcGill was born Balive
BThe doctors Erescuing him with F#knives
BBut his young Emother went and Bdied,
EJames he crieBd, Ehis first goodbyBe
EJames he crieBd, EHello GooF#dbye
Eoo-ooo-oooB-oo-o-oo-o-ooF#-oooB  
BA doctor caEme with a blue Bzeal
Bthen diagnoseEd the boy F#surreal
BThey sealed him Ein a room of stBeel
ETo seal the worlBd, Eto heal the boBy
EHe would no lBonger Ehave to F#feel
Eoo-ooo-oooB-oo-o-oo-o-ooF#-oooB  
BSo built a fEortress in his mangeBr
BSo made a sun Emade out of F#paper
ESo forged a frienBd of Ewind and vapoBr
EOh come on JaBmes Efor godness sakeF#, oh
Eoo-ooo-oooB-oo-o-oo-o-ooF#-oooB-oEo-ooo-ooo-Boo-o-oo-o-oo-F#oooB  
EFrom a spark to a Bflame to a F#fire in the Brain
ETo a smolder in Bsky that brings F#tear to your Beyes
EThat will stream to the Bsea, that will F#burn in the Blight
EThat will lift to the Bclouds what will F#rain when you Bdie
ELadadada, BLadadada, F#Ladadada BLadadada
ELadadada, BLadadada, F#Ladadada BLadadada
BThen one day,
BThen one day,
BThen one day Eold James he Bdied
BHis cold heart Estill his body's whiF#te
BBut still he Erose up to the Bsky
EHe rolled his Beyes
EBegan to Bcry
EHello GoodbyBe wEas just a F#lie
Eoo-ooo-oooB-oo-o-oo-o-ooF#-oooB  
BDear god I hope Ethat the last part's Btrue
BFor as this song Eis nearly F#through
BOne thing for Esure can't be the Bnight
EThis song will endB  
ELadadaBda
ELadadaBdaE, Hello GoodF#bye
Eoo-ooo-oooB-oo-o-oo-o-ooF#-oooB-oEo-ooo-ooo-Boo-o-oo-o-oo-F#oooB  
EFrom a spark to a Bflame to a F#fire in the raiBn
ETo a smolder in sky Bthat brings tF#ear to your eyesB  
EThat will stream to Bthe sea, that F#will burn in thBe light
EThat will lift to thBe clouds what F#will rain when Byou die
ELadadada, BLadadada, F#Ladadada BLadadada
ELadadada, BLadadada, F#Ladadada BLadadada

All chords in this song (3)

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Hello Goodbye

by Alex Ebert

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

He plays the entire thing with bar chords, so B on 7th and F# on 2th. E is played as an ordinary E.

Intro:

B E B

Young James McGill was born alive

B E F#

The doctors rescuing him with knives

B E B

But his young mother went and died,

E B E B

James he cried, his first goodbye

E B E F#

James he cried, Hello Goodbye

E B F# B

oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo

B E B

A doctor came with a blue zeal

B E F#

then diagnosed the boy surreal

B E B

They sealed him in a room of steel

E B E B

To seal the world, to heal the boy

E B E F#

He would no longer have to feel

E B F# B

oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo

B E B

So built a fortress in his manger

B E F#

So made a sun made out of paper

E B E B

So forged a friend of wind and vapor

E B E F#

Oh come on James for godness sake, oh

E B F# B E B F# B

oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo-oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo

E B F# B

From a spark to a flame to a fire in the rain

E B F# B

To a smolder in sky that brings tear to your eyes

E B F# B

That will stream to the sea, that will burn in the light

E B F# B

That will lift to the clouds what will rain when you die

E B F# B

Ladadada, Ladadada, Ladadada Ladadada

E B F# B

Ladadada, Ladadada, Ladadada Ladadada

Then one day,

B E B

Then one day old James he died

B E F#

His cold heart still his body's white

B E B

But still he rose up to the sky

E B

He rolled his eyes

E B

Began to cry

E B E F#

Hello Goodbye was just a lie

E B F# B

oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo

B E B

Dear god I hope that the last part's true

B E F#

For as this song is nearly through

B E B

One thing for sure can't be the night

E B

This song will end

E B

Ladadada

E B E F#

Ladadada, Hello Goodbye

E B F# B E B F# B

oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo-oo-ooo-ooo-oo-o-oo-o-oo-ooo

E B F# B

From a spark to a flame to a fire in the rain

E B F# B

To a smolder in sky that brings tear to your eyes

E B F# B

That will stream to the sea, that will burn in the light

E B F# B

That will lift to the clouds what will rain when you die

E B F# B

Ladadada, Ladadada, Ladadada Ladadada

E B F# B

Ladadada, Ladadada, Ladadada Ladadada

About Hello Goodbye Chords by Alex Ebert

Learn how to play Hello Goodbye by Alex Ebert with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Hello Goodbye chords”, “Hello Goodbye guitar chords”, or “Alex Ebert Hello Goodbye 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 Hello Goodbye chords and for experienced players who want accurate Hello Goodbye lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include B, F, E, F#, A.

FAQ — Hello Goodbye by Alex Ebert

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

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What key is "Hello Goodbye" in?

The chords for "Hello Goodbye" show the original chord names (including B, F, E, F#, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.