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Nannas Song

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

      a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so
CAPO: NONE
INTRO:
E  E  E7  E  A  Am  E  E
VERSE:
EIf I take you Abmdancing
Down the sDbmtreets to watch you lEaughing
And sAtop still in the sGbmpring night rain
 AJust to watch you smBile again
UEnderstand I'll Abmhold you hand
A lDbmittle tight as Eif by this
I'll sAtop the night from rGbmunning
Into mAorning light too sBoon.
INSTRUMENTAL:
E  E7  A  E  A  Gbm  B  B
VERSE:
IEce cream and Abmcandy bars,
A DbmParis moon and PEaris stars
 ACan you count the tGbmimes
TAhat we heard the chBimes of Notre DEame
Across the SAbmeine
To remDbmind us sadly oEnce again,
ATime just like the Gbmriver
Was swAiftly passing Bby.
INSTRUMENTAL:
E  E  E7  E  A  Am  E  E
E  E  A  Gbm  D  B  E  E
VERSE:
JEust a few reAbmminders
Of the lDbmittle things that bEind us
Do they mAake you sad
GbmOr make you glad
To thAink about the tBimes we had
EIn my dreams you're Abmdancing
In the Dbmembers of an eEvening,
And I'll hAold your hand a lGbmittle tight
 AJust to stop this sBpecial night,
From rEunning into mDorning light too sEoon.E  
OUTRO:
E   E  E7  E  A   Am   E
================== CAPO: 2nd FRET ==================
      a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so
CAPO: 2nd FRET
INTRO:
D  D  D7  D  G  Gm  D  D
VERSE:
DIf I take you F#mdancing
Down the sBmtreets to watch you lDaughing
And sGtop still in the sEmpring night rain
 GJust to watch you smAile again
UDnderstand I'll F#mhold you hand
A lBmittle tight as Dif by this
I'll sGtop the night from rEmunning
Into mGorning light too sAoon.
INSTRUMENTAL:
D  D7  G  D  G  Em   A  A
VERSE:
IDce cream and F#mcandy bars,
A BmParis moon and PDaris stars
 GCan you count the tEmimes
TGhat we heard the chAimes of Notre DDame
Across the SF#meine
To remBmind us sadly oDnce again,
GTime just like the Emriver
Was swGiftly passing Aby.
INSTRUMENTAL:
D  D  D7  D  G  Gm  D  D
D  D  G  Em   C  A  D  D
VERSE:
JDust a few reF#mminders
Of the lBmittle things that bDind us
Do they mGake you sad
EmOr make you glad
To thGink about the tAimes we had
DIn my dreams you're F#mdancing
In the Bmembers of an eDvening,
And I'll hGold your hand a lEmittle tight
 GJust to stop this sApecial night,
From rDunning into mCorning light too sDoon.D  
OUTRO:
D   D  D7  D  G   Gm   D
================== CAPO: 4th FRET ==================
      a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so
CAPO: 4th FRET
INTRO:
C  C  C7  C  F  Fm  C  C
VERSE:
CIf I take you Emdancing
Down the sAmtreets to watch you lCaughing
And sFtop still in the sDmpring night rain
 FJust to watch you smGile again
UCnderstand I'll Emhold you hand
A lAmittle tight as Cif by this
I'll sFtop the night from rDmunning
Into mForning light too sGoon.
INSTRUMENTAL:
C  C7  F  C  F  Dm   G  G
VERSE:
ICce cream and Emcandy bars,
A AmParis moon and PCaris stars
 FCan you count the tDmimes
TFhat we heard the chGimes of Notre DCame
Across the SEmeine
To remAmind us sadly oCnce again,
FTime just like the Dmriver
Was swFiftly passing Gby.
INSTRUMENTAL:
C  C  C7  C  F  Fm  C  C
C  C  F  Dm   A# G  C  C
VERSE:
JCust a few reEmminders
Of the lAmittle things that bCind us
Do they mFake you sad
DmOr make you glad
To thFink about the tGimes we had
CIn my dreams you're Emdancing
In the Amembers of an eCvening,
And I'll hFold your hand a lDmittle tight
 FJust to stop this sGpecial night,
From rCunning into mA#orning light too sCoon.C  
OUTRO:
C   C  C7  C  F   Fm   C

All chords in this song (21)

The story behind the song

"Nanna's Song" captures the tender desire to hold onto precious moments, especially with someone dear. It speaks to wishing you could stop the night from running into morning light too soon, so you could keep dancing and savor the time together. Ralph McTell, a celebrated figure in UK folk music since the 1960s, is known for his storytelling through song, often drawing from personal reflections. This song feels like a gentle plea to extend joy and connection, even as time inevitably passes.

AI-written from these sources:Ralph McTell — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

Nannas Song

Nannas Song

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Nannas Song

by Ralph McTell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Abm

Dbm

Gbm

F#m

a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so

CAPO: NONE

INTRO:

E E E7 E A Am E E

VERSE:

E Abm

If I take you dancing

Dbm E

Down the streets to watch you laughing

A Gbm

And stop still in the spring night rain

A B

Just to watch you smile again

E Abm

Understand I'll hold you hand

Dbm E

A little tight as if by this

A Gbm

I'll stop the night from running

A B

Into morning light too soon.

INSTRUMENTAL:

E E7 A E A Gbm B B

VERSE:

E Abm

Ice cream and candy bars,

Dbm E

A Paris moon and Paris stars

A Gbm

Can you count the times

A B E

That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame

Abm

Across the Seine

Dbm E

To remind us sadly once again,

A Gbm

Time just like the river

A B

Was swiftly passing by.

INSTRUMENTAL:

E E E7 E A Am E E

E E A Gbm D B E E

VERSE:

E Abm

Just a few reminders

Dbm E

Of the little things that bind us

Do they make you sad

Gbm

Or make you glad

A B

To think about the times we had

E Abm

In my dreams you're dancing

Dbm E

In the embers of an evening,

A Gbm

And I'll hold your hand a little tight

A B

Just to stop this special night,

E D E E

From running into morning light too soon.

OUTRO:

E E E7 E A Am E

================== CAPO: 2nd FRET ==================

a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so

CAPO: 2nd FRET

INTRO:

D D D7 D G Gm D D

VERSE:

D F#m

If I take you dancing

Bm D

Down the streets to watch you laughing

G Em

And stop still in the spring night rain

G A

Just to watch you smile again

D F#m

Understand I'll hold you hand

Bm D

A little tight as if by this

G Em

I'll stop the night from running

G A

Into morning light too soon.

INSTRUMENTAL:

D D7 G D G Em A A

VERSE:

D F#m

Ice cream and candy bars,

Bm D

A Paris moon and Paris stars

G Em

Can you count the times

G A D

That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame

F#m

Across the Seine

Bm D

To remind us sadly once again,

G Em

Time just like the river

G A

Was swiftly passing by.

INSTRUMENTAL:

D D D7 D G Gm D D

D D G Em C A D D

VERSE:

D F#m

Just a few reminders

Bm D

Of the little things that bind us

Do they make you sad

Or make you glad

G A

To think about the times we had

D F#m

In my dreams you're dancing

Bm D

In the embers of an evening,

G Em

And I'll hold your hand a little tight

G A

Just to stop this special night,

D C D D

From running into morning light too soon.

OUTRO:

D D D7 D G Gm D

================== CAPO: 4th FRET ==================

a very simple CHORD TAB in STANDARD TUNING so

CAPO: 4th FRET

INTRO:

C C C7 C F Fm C C

VERSE:

C Em

If I take you dancing

Am C

Down the streets to watch you laughing

F Dm

And stop still in the spring night rain

F G

Just to watch you smile again

C Em

Understand I'll hold you hand

Am C

A little tight as if by this

F Dm

I'll stop the night from running

F G

Into morning light too soon.

INSTRUMENTAL:

C C7 F C F Dm G G

VERSE:

C Em

Ice cream and candy bars,

Am C

A Paris moon and Paris stars

F Dm

Can you count the times

F G C

That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame

Across the Seine

Am C

To remind us sadly once again,

F Dm

Time just like the river

F G

Was swiftly passing by.

INSTRUMENTAL:

C C C7 C F Fm C C

C C F Dm A# G C C

VERSE:

C Em

Just a few reminders

Am C

Of the little things that bind us

Do they make you sad

Or make you glad

F G

To think about the times we had

C Em

In my dreams you're dancing

Am C

In the embers of an evening,

F Dm

And I'll hold your hand a little tight

F G

Just to stop this special night,

C A# C C

From running into morning light too soon.

OUTRO:

C C C7 C F Fm C

About Nannas Song Chords by Ralph McTell

Learn how to play Nannas Song by Ralph McTell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Nannas Song chords”, “Nannas Song guitar chords”, or “Ralph McTell Nannas Song 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 Nannas Song chords and for experienced players who want accurate Nannas Song lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, E7, A, Am, Abm, Dbm.

FAQ — Nannas Song by Ralph McTell

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What key is "Nannas Song" in?

The chords for "Nannas Song" show the original chord names (including E, E7, A, Am, Abm, Dbm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.