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When I Was A Boy

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/16

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 16Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

In the intro, the alternating C to G bass note on the
C chord is played on piano rather than guitar, and it
also appears at the end of the verses and choruses.
If you want to add this just use the (C/G) shape,
alternating the bass note from the 5th to 6th string.
In the 2 bar break, an electric guitar plays a 
G5 power chord (355xxx) over the ascending scale,
Jeff plays the G as (320033) on his acoustic.
C    = x32010    F *  = xx3211    F    = 133211
C/G  = 332010    Am/E = xx2210    Em   = 022000
Em/B = x22000    Dm   = xx0231    A7/E = xx2223
Am   = x02210    Dm/C = x30231    Ab   = 466544
Am/G = 302210    G    = 355433    Bb9  = x13111
[Intro]
| C/  C/G/  C/  C/G/ | C/  C/G/  C/  C/G/ | C/  C/G/  C/  C/G/ | C/  C/G/  C/  C/G/ |
[Verse 1]
CWhen I was a Em/Bboy I had a Amdream,Am/G  
FAll about the Am/Ethings I'd like to Dmbe,Dm/C  
GSoon as I was in my bed,
FMusic played in - Gside my head----Em----,
When I was a Gboy I had a CdrC/GeamC  C/G  C  C/G  C  C/G  
[Verse 2]
CWhen I was a Em/Bboy I learnt to Amplay,Am/G  
FFar into the Am/Enight and drift a - Dmway,Dm/C  
GDon't wanna work on the milk or the bread,
FJust wanna play my gui - Gtar instead--Em---,
When I was a Gboy I had a Cdream
[Chorus]
        C    Em/B      Am            Am/G   F*     A7/E  Dm  
And ra - dio   waves    ...kept me com - pan - y,
AbIn ...Gthose ...Cbeau - Em/Btiful Amdays,Am/G  
               F*   A7/E  Dm  
...When there was  no   money,
When I was a Bb9boy I had a Cdream
[Verse 3]
CWhen I was a Em/Bboy I had a Amdream,Am/G  
FFinding out what Am/Elife could really Dmmean,Dm/C  
GDon't want a job, 'cause it drives me crazy,
FJust wanna sing, 'Do you Glove me, baby?'
    EmWhen I was a Gboy I had a Cdream
[Chorus]
        C    Em/B      Am           Am/G   F*     A7/E  Dm  
And ra - dio   waves   ...kept me com - pan - y,
AbIn ...Gthose ...Cbeau - Em/Btiful Amdays,Am/G  
               F*   A7/E  Dm  
...When there was  no   money,
When I was a Bb9boy I had a Cdream
[Break]
e|--(G3)----------------|-------------------|
B|--(3)----------------|----------------0--|
G|--(0)----------------|--------0-1-2-3----|
D|--(0)-----------0-1--|--2-3-4------------|
A|--(2)-0-1-2-3-4------|-------------------|
E|---3-----------------|-------------------|
[Guitar solo]
      C      Em/B     Am      Am/G   F*      A7/E      Dm   Ab  G  
| /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |
      C      Em/B     Am      Am/G   F*      A7/E  Dm  
| /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |
[Coda]
When I was a Bb9boy...Bb9  C  
For the GUITAR chord box diagrams to match my
ThAm/Ee remaining cGhord boxeA7/Es can be thBb9e default first
The exception is there are two inversions of F
(differentiated by an asterisk in my chord legend).
variations as chord boxes, so you will have to
   F       or     F *

All chords in this song (14)

Open

X32O1O

Major chord - Happy, bright sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

C major

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

When I Was A Boy

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When I Was A Boy

by Electric Light Orchestra

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/G

Em/B

Am/G

Am/E

Dm/C

A7/E

Bb9

In the intro, the alternating C to G bass note on the

C chord is played on piano rather than guitar, and it

also appears at the end of the verses and choruses.

If you want to add this just use the (C/G) shape,

alternating the bass note from the 5th to 6th string.

In the 2 bar break, an electric guitar plays a

G5 power chord (355xxx) over the ascending scale,

Jeff plays the G as (320033) on his acoustic.

C = x32010 F * = xx3211 F = 133211

C/G = 332010 Am/E = xx2210 Em = 022000

Em/B = x22000 Dm = xx0231 A7/E = xx2223

Am = x02210 Dm/C = x30231 Ab = 466544

Am/G = 302210 G = 355433 Bb9 = x13111

[Intro]

C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

[Verse 1]

C Em/B Am Am/G

When I was a boy I had a dream,

F Am/E Dm Dm/C

All about the things I'd like to be,

Soon as I was in my bed,

F G Em

Music played in - side my head--------,

G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G

When I was a boy I had a dream

[Verse 2]

C Em/B Am Am/G

When I was a boy I learnt to play,

F Am/E Dm Dm/C

Far into the night and drift a - way,

Don't wanna work on the milk or the bread,

F G Em

Just wanna play my gui - tar instead-----,

G C

When I was a boy I had a dream

[Chorus]

C Em/B Am Am/G F A7/E Dm

And ra - dio waves ...kept me com - pan - y,

Ab G C Em/B Am Am/G

In ...those ...beau - tiful days,

F A7/E Dm

...When there was no money,

Bb9 C

When I was a boy I had a dream

[Verse 3]

C Em/B Am Am/G

When I was a boy I had a dream,

F Am/E Dm Dm/C

Finding out what life could really mean,

Don't want a job, 'cause it drives me crazy,

F G

Just wanna sing, 'Do you love me, baby?'

Em G C

When I was a boy I had a dream

[Chorus]

C Em/B Am Am/G F A7/E Dm

And ra - dio waves ...kept me com - pan - y,

Ab G C Em/B Am Am/G

In ...those ...beau - tiful days,

F A7/E Dm

...When there was no money,

Bb9 C

When I was a boy I had a dream

[Break]

e|--(3)----------------|-------------------|

B|--(3)----------------|----------------0--|

G|--(0)----------------|--------0-1-2-3----|

D|--(0)-----------0-1--|--2-3-4------------|

A|--(2)-0-1-2-3-4------|-------------------|

E|---3-----------------|-------------------|

[Guitar solo]

C Em/B Am Am/G F A7/E Dm Ab G

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C Em/B Am Am/G F A7/E Dm

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

[Coda]

Bb9 Bb9 C

When I was a boy...

For the GUITAR chord box diagrams to match my

Am/E G A7/E Bb9

The remaining chord boxes can be the default first

The exception is there are two inversions of F

(differentiated by an asterisk in my chord legend).

variations as chord boxes, so you will have to

F or F *

About When I Was A Boy Chords by Electric Light Orchestra

Learn how to play When I Was A Boy by Electric Light Orchestra with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “When I Was A Boy chords”, “When I Was A Boy guitar chords”, or “Electric Light Orchestra When I Was A Boy 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 When I Was A Boy chords and for experienced players who want accurate When I Was A Boy lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, C/G, F, Am/E, Em.

FAQ — When I Was A Boy by Electric Light Orchestra

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Can I transpose "When I Was A Boy" to a different key?

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Yes. Tap any chord in "When I Was A Boy" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "When I Was A Boy" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "When I Was A Boy" in?

The chords for "When I Was A Boy" show the original chord names (including C, G, C/G, F, Am/E, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.