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You Were Cool

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[Intro]
  D    A    Em    Gx2
[Verse]
 DThis is a song with the same Afour chords
I use most Emof the time when I've got somGething on my mind
And I dDon't wanna squander the momentA  
Trying to come up Emwith a better way to say Gwhat I want to say
[Chorus]
DPeople were mean to yAou
Embut I always thought you were cGool
Dclicking down the concrete hAallway
with your spEmiked heels
back in hGigh school.
[Instrumental]
  D    A    Em    Gx2
[Verse]
DIt's good to be young Abut let's not kid ourselves
It's bEmetter to pass on through those yGears and come out the other side
DWith our hearts still bAeating
Having Emstared down demons; cGome back breathing
[Chorus]
DPeople were mean to yAou
Embut I always thought you were cGool
Dclicking down the concrete haAllway
with your sEmpiked heels
back in hGigh school.
[Verse]
GYou deserved beAtter than you got
Someone's gDot to say it sometime because it's tGrue.
EmPeople should have told you you were aAwesome,
                                D   G***
Instead of taking advantage of you.
D           Em        A      (half beat only for both Em and A)
I hope you love your life
EmLike I love mGine.
DI hope the painful memories only fAlex their power over Emyou
A liGttle of the time.
DWe held onto the hAope of better days coming
EmAnd when we did we were rGight.
DI hope the people who dAid you wrong
EmHave trouble sleeping every nGight.
[Chorus]
DPeople were mean to yAou
Embut I always thought you were cGool
Dclicking down the concrete haAllway
with your sEmpiked heels
back in hGigh school.
[Outro]
  D    A    Em    Gx2
*** In the video I transcribed this from, he seems to plays A here. However he
sings to a G chord and I think it sounds better.

All chords in this song (4)

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You Were Cool

by The Mountain Goats

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

D A Em G

[Verse]

D A

This is a song with the same four chords

Em G

I use most of the time when I've got something on my mind

D A

And I don't wanna squander the moment

Em G

Trying to come up with a better way to say what I want to say

[Chorus]

D A

People were mean to you

Em G

but I always thought you were cool

D A

clicking down the concrete hallway

with your spiked heels

back in high school.

[Instrumental]

D A Em G

[Verse]

D A

It's good to be young but let's not kid ourselves

Em G

It's better to pass on through those years and come out the other side

D A

With our hearts still beating

Em G

Having stared down demons; come back breathing

[Chorus]

D A

People were mean to you

Em G

but I always thought you were cool

D A

clicking down the concrete hallway

with your spiked heels

back in high school.

[Verse]

G A

You deserved better than you got

D G

Someone's got to say it sometime because it's true.

Em A

People should have told you you were awesome,

D G

***

Instead of taking advantage of you.

D Em A (half beat only for both Em and A)

I hope you love your life

Em G

Like I love mine.

D A Em

I hope the painful memories only flex their power over you

A little of the time.

D A

We held onto the hope of better days coming

Em G

And when we did we were right.

D A

I hope the people who did you wrong

Em G

Have trouble sleeping every night.

[Chorus]

D A

People were mean to you

Em G

but I always thought you were cool

D A

clicking down the concrete hallway

with your spiked heels

back in high school.

[Outro]

D A Em G

*** In the video I transcribed this from, he seems to plays A here. However he

sings to a G chord and I think it sounds better.

About You Were Cool Chords by The Mountain Goats

Learn how to play You Were Cool by The Mountain Goats with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “You Were Cool chords”, “You Were Cool guitar chords”, or “The Mountain Goats You Were Cool 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 You Were Cool chords and for experienced players who want accurate You Were Cool lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, Em, G.

FAQ — You Were Cool by The Mountain Goats

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What key is "You Were Cool" in?

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