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Honolulu

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Gminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Tuning: DGCFAD 
[Intro]
Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Fmaj7 Bb3/D Gm6
[Verse 1]
Fmaj7When I was three I F#m7b5went to HoBb3/Dnolulu,Gm6  
Fmaj7Dad wore aloha sF#m7b5hirts, Mom wore a muBb3/DumuuGm6  
The ceBbmaj7ntipedes are Abmaj7all that I rFmaj7emember
I tBbmaj7hink I dropped my Abmaj7toy drum in the cFmaj7inders
Fmaj7Down into the F#m7b5mouth of some vBb3/Dolcano Gm6near Fmaj7HonolulEbmaj7uEmaj7  Fmaj7  
[Verse 2]
Fmaj7Granddaddy used to F#m7b5fight in the Bb3/DPacific FleeGm6t
Fmaj7Grandma used to F#m7b5say the air was Bb3/Dwarm and sweeGm6t
Bbmaj7But at last we Abmaj7had to move back Fmaj7to the States
Back Bbmaj7to the land of Abmaj7natural gas and rFmaj7attlesnakes
Fmaj7Granddaddy stayed and F#m7b5opened up a lBb3/Daundry Gm6out in Fmaj7HonoluluEbmaj7  Emaj7  Fmaj7  
[Verse 3]
My Fmaj7Honolulu F#m7b5granddaddy drove a CBb3/DadillacGm6  
He Fmaj7did card tricks and F#m7b5told us how the Bb3/Ddeck was stackeGm6d
He tBbmaj7old us dirty Abmaj7jokes about the Fmaj7naval corps
And Bbmaj7how one day the aAbmaj7irplanes started up a Fmaj7war
Fmaj7And how they buried F#m7b5bodies in long tBb3/DrencheGm6s in Fmaj7HonoluluEbmaj7  Emaj7  Fmaj7  
[Verse 4]
Bbmaj7Oh it used to Abmaj7be so Fmaj7nice
Bbmaj7When he took us on his Abmaj7knee 
And told us about that tropical pFmaj7aradise
It was alBb3/DrightGm6  
[Verse 5]
Fmaj7Someday I’m going F#m7b5back to HBb3/DonoluluGm6  
Fmaj7I’ll wear aloha F#m7b5shirts, she’ll wear a Bb3/DmuumuuGm6  
Bbmaj7Hawaii calls and Abmaj7who am I to Fmaj7stop it
Bbmaj7I think I’ll buy a Abmaj7new toy drum and Fmaj7drop it
Fmaj7Down into the F#m7b5mouth of some Bb3/DvolcanGm6o in Fmaj7HonoluluEbmaj7  Emaj7  Fmaj7  
[Verse 6]
Fmaj7Aloha ‘oe, Fmaj7aloha,        F#m7b5   Fmaj7boys
Fmaj7Aloha ‘oe, Fmaj7aloha         F#m7b5  Fmaj7toys 
Bb3/DUntil we Gm6meet Fmaj7againEmaj7  Fmaj7  

All chords in this song (8)

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Honolulu

by Michael Martin Murphey

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Fmaj7

Ebmaj7

Bb3/D

Gm6

F#m7b5

Bbmaj7

Abmaj7

Emaj7

Tuning: DGCFAD

[Intro]

Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Fmaj7 Bb3/D Gm6

[Verse 1]

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

When I was three I went to Honolulu,

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

Dad wore aloha shirts, Mom wore a muumuu

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

The centipedes are all that I remember

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

I think I dropped my toy drum in the cinders

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6 Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7

Down into the mouth of some volcano near Honolulu

[Verse 2]

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

Granddaddy used to fight in the Pacific Fleet

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

Grandma used to say the air was warm and sweet

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

But at last we had to move back to the States

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

Back to the land of natural gas and rattlesnakes

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6 Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7

Granddaddy stayed and opened up a laundry out in Honolulu

[Verse 3]

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

My Honolulu granddaddy drove a Cadillac

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

He did card tricks and told us how the deck was stacked

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

He told us dirty jokes about the naval corps

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

And how one day the airplanes started up a war

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6 Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7

And how they buried bodies in long trenches in Honolulu

[Verse 4]

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

Oh it used to be so nice

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7

When he took us on his knee

Fmaj7

And told us about that tropical paradise

Bb3/D Gm6

It was alright

[Verse 5]

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

Someday I’m going back to Honolulu

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6

I’ll wear aloha shirts, she’ll wear a muumuu

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

Hawaii calls and who am I to stop it

Bbmaj7 Abmaj7 Fmaj7

I think I’ll buy a new toy drum and drop it

Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Bb3/D Gm6 Fmaj7 Ebmaj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7

Down into the mouth of some volcano in Honolulu

[Verse 6]

Fmaj7 Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Fmaj7

Aloha ‘oe, aloha, boys

Fmaj7 Fmaj7 F#m7b5 Fmaj7

Aloha ‘oe, aloha toys

Bb3/D Gm6 Fmaj7 Emaj7 Fmaj7

Until we meet again

About Honolulu Chords by Michael Martin Murphey

Learn how to play Honolulu by Michael Martin Murphey with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Honolulu chords”, “Honolulu guitar chords”, or “Michael Martin Murphey Honolulu 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 Honolulu chords and for experienced players who want accurate Honolulu lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Fmaj7, Ebmaj7, Bb3/D, Gm6, F#m7b5, Bbmaj7.

FAQ — Honolulu by Michael Martin Murphey

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Is "Honolulu" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Honolulu" in?

The chords for "Honolulu" show the original chord names (including Fmaj7, Ebmaj7, Bb3/D, Gm6, F#m7b5, Bbmaj7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.