Now playing

Make Hay

Chords

4.94 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
BbSo long
BbSo long
BbSo long
BbSo long
[Verse]
BbSo long
My oAbld friend dF#ied that Bbmway:
The Ebaccumulation of Abtime F#and the passiBbmng of daysEb  
AbThough she dug in her heF#els
BbmDrug her wheels in the Ebclay
[Pre-Chorus]
AbShe dotted her eyCes;
Crossed the teGmasels in her leaninFmg dray
[Chorus]
WEbhere buzzards make cirGcles
(and tiBbllers make hay):D  
A doEbzen in ketGtle, comBbittee & wDake;
Where wEbind made the dGust
And Bbsin made the Dsnake
AnFd mama made Cus
But Amwhat did GI make?
[Verse]
And how was I to knoFw
Down in our old goGldmineAm  
Where you were the king of the GradioF  
And I was the keeper of Ghi-fiC  
And I was the queen of the roGdeoF  
(And everybody'd know,)
And you were the keeper of the Glions;Am  
And we were gorFed, and abased
And adored, and erased
All befoCre our time?
It was befoFre oGur tAmime
So how was I Gto knAmow?G  
How was BbI to kAnow
WhiEble tune hums
And the hand stDmrikes the gGmong
And all of us plAough our row
EbAnd the notes run
Out of meDmasure and out of time and landing wrGmong?
BbThe day is lonFg, but not Amso longBb  
My old frAbiend F#died alBbmone
Save Ebfor the frienAbds and famF#ily she hBbmad known
SurEbrounding her bedAb  
None of whF#om in that rBbmoom
Could with cerEbtainty have said
[Pre-Chorus]
“I've Abdotted my Ceyes
Crossed the tGmeasels in my leanFming sled
[Chorus]
EbWhere buzzards make ciGrcles and tiBbllers make hayD:
In Ebwindrow and baGle
BbWith tedder and rDake;
EbWhere Adam madGe ribs
ABbnd cattle make Dsteak.”
F(And the rattling Cnib writes
Am“What did I Gmake?”)
[Verse]
And how was I to Fknow
Seeing my seconds Gpass in a lineAm  
If there was a Gway to reckFon love
Except as a sGymptom of tiCme?
And honey, it streGtched out bFelow us     
Humming every note
From the lowest Gto the hiAmghest
But even at the highest we were bGored, anFd amazed
In accord, in a daze
All before our tiCme
It was beGfore our FtimeG  Am  
So how was I Gto kFnow?G  Am  
How was GI to FknowG  Am  
How was GI to kFnowG  Am  
How waGs I tFo knoAw
While tEbhe day slows
And the Dmsun stares, stGmalling
Into Athe dimming Ebbarrel of night
Where the sDmtars are fallGming?
[Outro]
I'Bbve got no Fsay
But sAmtill
I'm Bbcalling for my old F#friend
We Absow and we reapEb, againBbm  

All chords in this song (14)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Make Hay

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bbm

[Intro]

So long

[Verse]

So long

Ab F# Bbm

My old friend died that way:

Eb Ab F# Bbm Eb

The accumulation of time and the passing of days

Ab F#

Though she dug in her heels

Bbm Eb

Drug her wheels in the clay

[Pre-Chorus]

Ab C

She dotted her eyes;

Gm Fm

Crossed the teasels in her leaning dray

[Chorus]

Eb G

Where buzzards make circles

Bb D

(and tillers make hay):

Eb G Bb D

A dozen in kettle, comittee & wake;

Eb G

Where wind made the dust

Bb D

And sin made the snake

F C

And mama made us

Am G

But what did I make?

[Verse]

And how was I to know

G Am

Down in our old goldmine

G F

Where you were the king of the radio

G C

And I was the keeper of hi-fi

G F

And I was the queen of the rodeo

(And everybody'd know,)

G Am

And you were the keeper of the lions;

And we were gored, and abased

And adored, and erased

All before our time?

F G Am

It was before our time

G Am G

So how was I to know?

Bb A

How was I to know

While tune hums

Dm Gm

And the hand strikes the gong

And all of us plough our row

And the notes run

Dm Gm

Out of measure and out of time and landing wrong?

Bb F Am Bb

The day is long, but not so long

Ab F# Bbm

My old friend died alone

Eb Ab F# Bbm

Save for the friends and family she had known

Eb Ab

Surrounding her bed

F# Bbm

None of whom in that room

Could with certainty have said

[Pre-Chorus]

Ab C

“I've dotted my eyes

Gm Fm

Crossed the teasels in my leaning sled

[Chorus]

Eb G Bb D

Where buzzards make circles and tillers make hay:

Eb G

In windrow and bale

Bb D

With tedder and rake;

Eb G

Where Adam made ribs

Bb D

And cattle make steak.”

F C

(And the rattling nib writes

Am G

“What did I make?”)

[Verse]

And how was I to know

G Am

Seeing my seconds pass in a line

G F

If there was a way to reckon love

G C

Except as a symptom of time?

G F

And honey, it stretched out below us

Humming every note

G Am

From the lowest to the highest

G F

But even at the highest we were bored, and amazed

In accord, in a daze

All before our time

G F G Am

It was before our time

G F G Am

So how was I to know?

G F G Am

How was I to know

G F G Am

How was I to know

G F A

How was I to know

While the day slows

Dm Gm

And the sun stares, stalling

A Eb

Into the dimming barrel of night

Dm Gm

Where the stars are falling?

[Outro]

Bb F

I've got no say

But still

Bb F#

I'm calling for my old friend

Ab Eb Bbm

We sow and we reap, again

About Make Hay Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Make Hay by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Make Hay chords”, “Make Hay guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Make Hay 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 Make Hay chords and for experienced players who want accurate Make Hay lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bb, Ab, F#, Bbm, Eb, C.

FAQ — Make Hay by Joanna Newsom

How do I play "Make Hay" by Joanna Newsom on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Make Hay" by Joanna Newsom 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 "Make Hay" by Joanna Newsom free?

Yes. The chords for "Make Hay" by Joanna Newsom are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Make Hay" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Make Hay"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Make Hay" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Make Hay" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Make Hay" by Joanna Newsom with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Joanna Newsom below.

What key is "Make Hay" in?

The chords for "Make Hay" show the original chord names (including Bb, Ab, F#, Bbm, Eb, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.