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Before My Time

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[Verse 1]
GI know that hearts were loving 
Long D7before I was here
And I'm D7not the first to ever cry
In my Gbed or in my beer
[Verse 2]
There were Csongs before there was radio
Of Glove that stays and Emlove that goes
They were Cwriting melancholy tunes
And tearful words that D7rhyme
Before my Gtime   D7before my Gtime
[Verse 3]
GThere were songs in old dusty books
Of D7love that's always been
Sweet D7lovers in their glory
Who are Gnow gone with the wind
[Verse 4]
Old Cfashion love words spoken then
Keep Gcoming back Emaround again
CNothings changed except the names
Their love burns just like D7mine
Before my Gtime  D7before my Gtime
[Verse 5]
And Cin the dim of yesterday
GI can clearly see
That Cflesh and blood cried out to someone
GAs it does in D7me
[Bridge]
And there was Gsome old song that said
I Clove you till I die
Before my Gtime  D7before my Gtime
[Verse 5]
But what the Gold time masters had
Is D7what I feel for you
Love D7is love and doesn't change
In a Gcentury or two
End
If Csomeway they had seen and knew
GHow it would be for Emme and you
They'd Cwish for love like yours
And they would wish for love like D7mine
Before my Gtime  D7before my Gtime

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

Johnny Cash was known for his deep voice and music often exploring themes of sorrow, moral struggles, and redemption. This song, appearing on American III: Solitary Man, carries the weight of a life lived and the wisdom gained through experience. It plays like a reflection on the path walked and the lessons learned along the way.

AI-written from these sources:Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Before My Time

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

I know that hearts were loving

Long before I was here

And I'm not the first to ever cry

In my bed or in my beer

[Verse 2]

There were songs before there was radio

G Em

Of love that stays and love that goes

They were writing melancholy tunes

And tearful words that rhyme

G D7 G

Before my time before my time

[Verse 3]

There were songs in old dusty books

Of love that's always been

Sweet lovers in their glory

Who are now gone with the wind

[Verse 4]

Old fashion love words spoken then

G Em

Keep coming back around again

Nothings changed except the names

Their love burns just like mine

G D7 G

Before my time before my time

[Verse 5]

And in the dim of yesterday

I can clearly see

That flesh and blood cried out to someone

G D7

As it does in me

[Bridge]

And there was some old song that said

I love you till I die

G D7 G

Before my time before my time

[Verse 5]

But what the old time masters had

Is what I feel for you

Love is love and doesn't change

In a century or two

End

If someway they had seen and knew

G Em

How it would be for me and you

They'd wish for love like yours

And they would wish for love like mine

G D7 G

Before my time before my time

About Before My Time Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Before My Time by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Before My Time chords”, “Before My Time guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Before My Time 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 Before My Time chords and for experienced players who want accurate Before My Time lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D7, C, Em.

FAQ — Before My Time by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Before My Time" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Before My Time" by Johnny Cash 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 "Before My Time" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Before My Time" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Before My Time" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Before My Time"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Before My Time" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Before My Time" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Before My Time" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Before My Time" in?

The chords for "Before My Time" show the original chord names (including G, D7, C, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.