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When I Was A Boy

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Gmajor

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GI wont forget when Peter Pan
G/BCame to my house, took my hand
CI said, "I was a boy"
G/BIm glad he didnt checkD  
GI learned to fly, I learned to fight
G/BI lived a whole life in one night
CWe saved each others lives
G/BOut on the pirates deckD  
CAnd I remember that night
GWhen Im leaving G/Ba late night with some friendsC  
G/BAnd I hear somebody Ctell me
G/BIts not safe, someone should helDp me
CI need to find a nice Dman to walk me Ghome
G/BWhen I was a boy
I scared the pants off of my mom
CClimbed what I could climb uponD  
CAnd I dont know how I survivedG/B  
G/BI guess I knew the tricks that all boys Cknew
And you G/Bcan walk me homeD  
CBut I waDs a boy, G/Btoo
I was a kid that you would like
Just a small boy on her bike
Riding topless, yeah
I never cared who saw
My neighbor come outside
To say, "Get your shirt,"
I said "No way, it's the last time
I'm not breaking any law"
CAnd now I'm in this clothing stoG/Bre
G/BAnd the signs say less is moreC  
More that's tight means G/Bmore to seeD  
CMore for them, nG/Bot more for meD  
CThat can't help Dme climb a tree in ten seconds fG/Blat
When I was a boy, see that picture? That was me
Grass-stained shirt and dusty knees
And I know things have gotta change
G/BThey got pills to sell, they've got implCants to put inG  
G/BThey've got implants to removeD  C  
But I am G/Bnot forDgetting
CThat I wDas a boy G/Btoo
And like the woods where I would creep
It's a secret I can keep
Except when I'm tired
'Cept when I'm being caught off guard
And I've had a lonesome awful day
The conversation finds its way
To catching fire-flies
Out in the backyard
CAnd I so tell the man I'm withG/B  
G/BAbout the other life I lCived
And I G/Bsay now you're top Dgun
CI have lG/Bost and you have wonD  
CAnd he says, "Oh Dno, no, can't yG/Bou see
When I was a girl, my mom
And I we always talked
And I picked flowers
Everywhere that I walked
DAnd I could always cry  
G/BNow even when I'm alone I seldom doC  
CAnd I have lDost some kinG/Bdness
CBut I wDas a giG/Brl too
CAnd you Dwere jG/Bust like me
CAnd I wDas just Glike you

All chords in this song (4)

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When I Was A Boy

by Dar Williams

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G/B

I wont forget when Peter Pan

G/B

Came to my house, took my hand

I said, "I was a boy"

G/B D

Im glad he didnt check

I learned to fly, I learned to fight

G/B

I lived a whole life in one night

We saved each others lives

G/B D

Out on the pirates deck

And I remember that night

G G/B C

When Im leaving a late night with some friends

G/B C

And I hear somebody tell me

G/B D

Its not safe, someone should help me

C D G

I need to find a nice man to walk me home

G/B

When I was a boy

I scared the pants off of my mom

C D

Climbed what I could climb upon

C G/B

And I dont know how I survived

G/B C

I guess I knew the tricks that all boys knew

G/B D

And you can walk me home

C D G/B

But I was a boy, too

I was a kid that you would like

Just a small boy on her bike

Riding topless, yeah

I never cared who saw

My neighbor come outside

To say, "Get your shirt,"

I said "No way, it's the last time

I'm not breaking any law"

C G/B

And now I'm in this clothing store

G/B C

And the signs say less is more

G/B D

More that's tight means more to see

C G/B D

More for them, not more for me

C D G/B

That can't help me climb a tree in ten seconds flat

When I was a boy, see that picture? That was me

Grass-stained shirt and dusty knees

And I know things have gotta change

G/B C G

They got pills to sell, they've got implants to put in

G/B D C

They've got implants to remove

G/B D

But I am not forgetting

C D G/B

That I was a boy too

And like the woods where I would creep

It's a secret I can keep

Except when I'm tired

'Cept when I'm being caught off guard

And I've had a lonesome awful day

The conversation finds its way

To catching fire-flies

Out in the backyard

C G/B

And I so tell the man I'm with

G/B C

About the other life I lived

G/B D

And I say now you're top gun

C G/B D

I have lost and you have won

C D G/B

And he says, "Oh no, no, can't you see

When I was a girl, my mom

And I we always talked

And I picked flowers

Everywhere that I walked

And I could always cry

G/B C

Now even when I'm alone I seldom do

C D G/B

And I have lost some kindness

C D G/B

But I was a girl too

C D G/B

And you were just like me

C D G

And I was just like you

About When I Was A Boy Chords by Dar Williams

Learn how to play When I Was A Boy by Dar Williams 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 “Dar Williams 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 G, G/B, C, D.

FAQ — When I Was A Boy by Dar Williams

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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 G, G/B, C, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.