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My Dear Helen

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

The tuning I've seen him use is C# Standard, with a capo on the 1st fret, but you can just tune to D. 
Chords: 
 G|320xxx| 
 C/G|332xxx|
 E5|022xxx| 
 A5|502xxx| 
 C5|334xxx| (Guitar Pro tells me it's a  C5but I don't think it actually is...) 
 C|3320xx| 
 Am/G|3322xx| 
 D/A|554xxx|
Strumming pattern is pretty straight forward. 
Not hard to figure it out if you find a video of him playing it. 
Gmy dear Helen it's been a whC/Gile since we've talked.
E5Charlie and I haven't been A5up to a whole lot.
he's C/Gslowing down a little and my C5knee's acting up,
yeah we're Cquite a pair of geezers moving sAm/Glower than molasses.
you'd be C/Glaughing if you saw us, you aD/Always loved to tease.
I Gdug up an old bottle of your raC/Gspberry wine,
so I'm sE5louched out on the porch-swing just tA5aking my time.
my C/Gmind keeps turning out these C5pictures of you,
you were Cdancing in the kitchen and I was enAm/Gjoying my view.
oh CC/Gharlie was squirming just D/Atwo steps behind you. 
Gmy dear Helen do you reC/Gmember when you said
that you'd be E5waiting at the gates so you could A5sneak me in?
well it C/Gsure was funny but it still cauC5ght in my throat,
and when I Cthink about it now, it still Am/Gmakes me choke.
and I wC/Gonder if those gates would ever opD/Aen up for me.
GHelen my dear, I do have C/Gsomething to tell.
I E5don't know how to start so I guA5ess I just will.
see, these nC/Gights have been hot, it's that muC5ggy sort of air.
doesn't Clet me get to sleep so I usuAm/Gally just lie there
on tC/Gop of my quilt with ChD/Aarlie by my feet.
last Gnight as I laid there frusC/Gtrated and tired,
I was E5sat up in my bed by the heA5ns starting wild.
I thought, C/G'that fox is back again, he's gonna C5rob me blind.
I don't knCow how he gets in but I'd beAm/Gtter make him fly'.
so I C/Gtook my leaning rifle out the dD/Aoor.
I Gfired off a shot aiming faC/Gr into the heat.
and as sE5oon as it was flying I felt weA5ak in my knees.
I heard C/Gshoes turning gravel and then tiC5res spitting rocks.
I heard a Cgasp for air and my stAm/Gomach tied in knots.
ChC/Garlie started whining with his taC5il between his legs.
we wCandered out slow but my heAm/Gart was breakin' ribs.
I couC/Gldn't hear nothing and there was a giC5rl lying twisted,
my hCands were trembling and I fAm/Gelt that she was limp.
her puC/Glse wasn't tapping so I felt siC5ck to my stomach.
ChCarlie was frozen, so I wAm/Gent for a shovel
and I buC/Gried her body, I didn't kC5now what else to do.
if I'd only Caimed a little higher if I'd only tAm/Ghought before I fired.
I hope C/GGod can forgive me, I hope yC5ou forgive me too,
I'm just a tCired old man just waiAm/Gting to join you.
so heC/Gre I am slouched on this olC5d porch swing,
thCinking about heaven, thinking abAm/Gout everything.
so be waC/Giting by those gates, you might neC5ed to sneak me in,
I don't knCow how they feel about us acAm/Gcidental killers.
I don't knC/Gow how they feel about us tiC5red old men.
I don't knCow how they feel about us tirAm/Ged, old, murdering men.
C/G  C5
I don't knCow how they feel about us tirAm/Ged, old, murdering men. 

All chords in this song (8)

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My Dear Helen

by Andy Shauf

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

C/G

Am/G

D/A

The tuning I've seen him use is C# Standard, with a capo on the 1st fret, but you can just tune to D.

Chords:

|320xxx|

C/G

|332xxx|

|022xxx|

|502xxx|

C5 C5

|334xxx| (Guitar Pro tells me it's a but I don't think it actually is...)

|3320xx|

Am/G

|3322xx|

D/A

|554xxx|

Strumming pattern is pretty straight forward.

Not hard to figure it out if you find a video of him playing it.

G C/G

my dear Helen it's been a while since we've talked.

E5 A5

Charlie and I haven't been up to a whole lot.

C/G C5

he's slowing down a little and my knee's acting up,

C Am/G

yeah we're quite a pair of geezers moving slower than molasses.

C/G D/A

you'd be laughing if you saw us, you always loved to tease.

G C/G

I dug up an old bottle of your raspberry wine,

E5 A5

so I'm slouched out on the porch-swing just taking my time.

C/G C5

my mind keeps turning out these pictures of you,

C Am/G

you were dancing in the kitchen and I was enjoying my view.

C/G D/A

oh Charlie was squirming just two steps behind you.

G C/G

my dear Helen do you remember when you said

E5 A5

that you'd be waiting at the gates so you could sneak me in?

C/G C5

well it sure was funny but it still caught in my throat,

C Am/G

and when I think about it now, it still makes me choke.

C/G D/A

and I wonder if those gates would ever open up for me.

G C/G

Helen my dear, I do have something to tell.

E5 A5

I don't know how to start so I guess I just will.

C/G C5

see, these nights have been hot, it's that muggy sort of air.

C Am/G

doesn't let me get to sleep so I usually just lie there

C/G D/A

on top of my quilt with Charlie by my feet.

G C/G

last night as I laid there frustrated and tired,

E5 A5

I was sat up in my bed by the hens starting wild.

C/G C5

I thought, 'that fox is back again, he's gonna rob me blind.

C Am/G

I don't know how he gets in but I'd better make him fly'.

C/G D/A

so I took my leaning rifle out the door.

G C/G

I fired off a shot aiming far into the heat.

E5 A5

and as soon as it was flying I felt weak in my knees.

C/G C5

I heard shoes turning gravel and then tires spitting rocks.

C Am/G

I heard a gasp for air and my stomach tied in knots.

C/G C5

Charlie started whining with his tail between his legs.

C Am/G

we wandered out slow but my heart was breakin' ribs.

C/G C5

I couldn't hear nothing and there was a girl lying twisted,

C Am/G

my hands were trembling and I felt that she was limp.

C/G C5

her pulse wasn't tapping so I felt sick to my stomach.

C Am/G

Charlie was frozen, so I went for a shovel

C/G C5

and I buried her body, I didn't know what else to do.

C Am/G

if I'd only aimed a little higher if I'd only thought before I fired.

C/G C5

I hope God can forgive me, I hope you forgive me too,

C Am/G

I'm just a tired old man just waiting to join you.

C/G C5

so here I am slouched on this old porch swing,

C Am/G

thinking about heaven, thinking about everything.

C/G C5

so be waiting by those gates, you might need to sneak me in,

C Am/G

I don't know how they feel about us accidental killers.

C/G C5

I don't know how they feel about us tired old men.

C Am/G

I don't know how they feel about us tired, old, murdering men.

C/G C5

C Am/G

I don't know how they feel about us tired, old, murdering men.

About My Dear Helen Chords by Andy Shauf

Learn how to play My Dear Helen by Andy Shauf with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “My Dear Helen chords”, “My Dear Helen guitar chords”, or “Andy Shauf My Dear Helen 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 My Dear Helen chords and for experienced players who want accurate My Dear Helen lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, D, G, C/G, E5, A5.

FAQ — My Dear Helen by Andy Shauf

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The chords for "My Dear Helen" show the original chord names (including C, D, G, C/G, E5, A5). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.