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How Will I Ever Be Simple Again
Chords
4.65 votes
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
This is my variation. I left out the solo. I fingerpick, but not at Mr. Thompson's level. :).
The top part is the usual lyrics +
chords. See tab for variation on chord formation.
AShe danced in the street with the Dguns all Aaround her
AAll torn like a rag doll Ebarefoot in the rain
AShe sang like a child to-ra-Dday-to-ra-Ada-dee
AOh how will I ever be Esimple Aagain
AShe sat on the banks of the Ddirty gray Ariver
AAnd tried for a fish with a Eworm on a pin
AThere was nothing but fever and Dghosts in that Awater
AOh how will I ever Ebe simple AagainA/A A/B A/C
DWar was my love Amy friend and companion
DWhat did I care for the Apretty and Eplain
AHer smile was so clear and my Dheart was so Atroubled
AOh how will I ever Ebe simple aAgain
Solo
AIn her poor burned out house I Dsat by her Atable
AThe smell of her hair was like Ecornfields in May
AI wanted to weep and my Deyes ached from Atrying
A E AA/A/ A/B A/C
Oh how will I ever be simple again
DHow graceful she moved in the Adust and the ruins
DHow happy she was in her Adances and gEames
ATeach me to see with your Dinnocent Aeyes love
AOh how will I ever be Esimple Aagain
AOh how will I ever be Esimple Aagain
--------------------------------------------------------
She danced in the streets with the
A CHORD
| |-----|------|------|-----|--4---|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
With the guns all
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Around her
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
All torn like a rag doll
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Barefoot in the rain
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
She sang like a child to-ra-
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
day- to-ra-da-
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
dee Oh how will I ever
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Simple
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Again
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
2nd verse same as the first, except for walk-up (below) going into bridge
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|---3--|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
BRIDGE What did I care for the
D CHORD
| |-----|---3---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--2---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
The pretty and
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Plain
E CHORD (Arpeggio E chord with harmonic at 12th fret after arpeggio
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Her smile was so clear etc. uses chord structure as shown in verses
-------------------------------------------------
Next verse and bridge same as the first EXCEPT for last A chord, fingered as shown,
(4th finger at 5th fret)finishes with a harmonic at 17th fret.
All chords in this song (6)
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How Will I Ever Be Simple Again
by Richard Thompson
Chords in this song · guitar
A
D
E
A/A
A/B
A/C
This is my variation. I left out the solo. I fingerpick, but not at Mr. Thompson's level. :).
The top part is the usual lyrics +
chords. See tab for variation on chord formation.
A D A
She danced in the street with the guns all around her
A E
All torn like a rag doll barefoot in the rain
A D A
She sang like a child to-ra-day-to-ra-da-dee
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
A D A
She sat on the banks of the dirty gray river
A E
And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin
A D A
There was nothing but fever and ghosts in that water
A E A A/A A/B A/C
Oh how will I ever be simple again
D A
War was my love my friend and companion
D A E
What did I care for the pretty and plain
A D A
Her smile was so clear and my heart was so troubled
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
Solo
A D A
In her poor burned out house I sat by her table
A E
The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May
A D A
I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from trying
A E A A/B A/C
A/A/
Oh how will I ever be simple again
D A
How graceful she moved in the dust and the ruins
D A E
How happy she was in her dances and games
A D A
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes love
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
A E A
Oh how will I ever be simple again
--------------------------------------------------------
She danced in the streets with the
A CHORD
| |-----|------|------|-----|--4---|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0--|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
With the guns all
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Around her
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
All torn like a rag doll
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Barefoot in the rain
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
She sang like a child to-ra-
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
day- to-ra-da-
D CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
dee Oh how will I ever
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Simple
E CHORD
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Again
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
2nd verse same as the first, except for walk-up (below) going into bridge
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
A CHORD
| |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|---3--|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
BRIDGE What did I care for the
D CHORD
| |-----|---3---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|-------|--2---|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
The pretty and
A CHORD
| |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------|
| |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------|
Plain
E CHORD (Arpeggio E chord with harmonic at 12th fret after arpeggio
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
| |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|
Her smile was so clear etc. uses chord structure as shown in verses
-------------------------------------------------
Next verse and bridge same as the first EXCEPT for last A chord, fingered as shown,
(4th finger at 5th fret)finishes with a harmonic at 17th fret.
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About How Will I Ever Be Simple Again Chords by Richard Thompson
Learn how to play How Will I Ever Be Simple Again by Richard Thompson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “How Will I Ever Be Simple Again chords”, “How Will I Ever Be Simple Again guitar chords”, or “Richard Thompson How Will I Ever Be Simple Again 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 How Will I Ever Be Simple Again chords and for experienced players who want accurate How Will I Ever Be Simple Again lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E, A/A, A/B, A/C.
FAQ — How Will I Ever Be Simple Again by Richard Thompson
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What key is "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again" in?
The chords for "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again" show the original chord names (including A, D, E, A/A, A/B, A/C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.