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Old Days

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Gmajor

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I was Gsittin' in the dressing room with Brownie CMcGee
He was Emdrinkin' that milk with that DDewar's Whiskey
Said John, there's Gnothin' written anywhere, suggests the Cblues will set you free
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to Gme
I was Gridin' in the back seat, with CSonny Terry
Little harmonica Emplayer used to drive him around, I think his Dname was Harry
Tried to Gget him to eat tofu, raw vegetables, Cnuts, and berries
But EmSonny wasn't havin' Dany of itG  
He let me Gshare a room with 'em for a Ccouple of weeks
Sonny Emslept with his good eye open staring out from Dunder the sheets
I was Gyoung and uncomfortable, I don't mind tellin' Cya kinda gave me the creeps
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to Gme
GOld days are comin' Cback to me
Don't know Emwhat was so good about 'em, I played Dpractically free
I had Gnothin' to live up to Ceverywhere to be
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to Gme
On some Gdates with Mose Allison somewhere Cout in the Midwest
Said some of my Emlyrics reminded him of the poet Kenneth Patchen I Dtook it as a compliment
He was re- Gferring to the line about wearin' neon signs Con your wounds, later on, I knew what he meant
EmOld days are Dcomin' back to Gme
On a Gdate with John Lee Hooker at a packed Cjoint up in Washington
He Emcame in with a gorgeous woman on each arm as DI was singing my song
GWalked 'em right up and sat 'em on the edge of the Cstage as I went singing along
And that's Emcalled "evenin' Dson, I'm the Gheadliner"
GOld days are comin' Cback to me
I don't know Emwhat was so great about 'em, I played Dpractically free
But I Ghad nothing to live up to and Ceverywhere to be
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to Gme
Played a Ggig with John Hammond Jr. up in CVancouver BC
Exotic Emdancer came in my dressing room, started Ddancing exotically
They were Gsmoking something in the audience that night, smelled Cexactly like cat pee
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to meG  
GOpened up a gig for Gatemouth Brown down in CBaton Rouge
He was Gplaying that Hillbilly, Jazz, Cajun, Country GZydeco, and Blues
GThrowin' it out past the walls like Csome kind of musical centrifuge
EmOld days are Dcomin' back to Gme
GOld days are comin' Cback to me
I don't know Emwhat was so good about 'em, I played Dpractically free
But I had Gnothin' to live up to Ceverywhere to be
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to meG  
Yeah, Gold days are comin' Cback to me
I don't know Emwhat was so great about 'em, I played Dpractically free
But I had Gnothin' to live up to Ceverywhere to be
Old Emdays are comin' Dback to meG  
EmOld days are Dcomin' back to meG  

All chords in this song (4)

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Old Days

by John Hiatt

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G C

I was sittin' in the dressing room with Brownie McGee

Em D

He was drinkin' that milk with that Dewar's Whiskey

G C

Said John, there's nothin' written anywhere, suggests the blues will set you free

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

I was ridin' in the back seat, with Sonny Terry

Em D

Little harmonica player used to drive him around, I think his name was Harry

G C

Tried to get him to eat tofu, raw vegetables, nuts, and berries

Em D G

But Sonny wasn't havin' any of it

G C

He let me share a room with 'em for a couple of weeks

Em D

Sonny slept with his good eye open staring out from under the sheets

G C

I was young and uncomfortable, I don't mind tellin' ya kinda gave me the creeps

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

Old days are comin' back to me

Em D

Don't know what was so good about 'em, I played practically free

G C

I had nothin' to live up to everywhere to be

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

On some dates with Mose Allison somewhere out in the Midwest

Em D

Said some of my lyrics reminded him of the poet Kenneth Patchen I took it as a compliment

G C

He was re- ferring to the line about wearin' neon signs on your wounds, later on, I knew what he meant

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

On a date with John Lee Hooker at a packed joint up in Washington

Em D

He came in with a gorgeous woman on each arm as I was singing my song

G C

Walked 'em right up and sat 'em on the edge of the stage as I went singing along

Em D G

And that's called "evenin' son, I'm the headliner"

G C

Old days are comin' back to me

Em D

I don't know what was so great about 'em, I played practically free

G C

But I had nothing to live up to and everywhere to be

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

Played a gig with John Hammond Jr. up in Vancouver BC

Em D

Exotic dancer came in my dressing room, started dancing exotically

G C

They were smoking something in the audience that night, smelled exactly like cat pee

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

Opened up a gig for Gatemouth Brown down in Baton Rouge

G G

He was playing that Hillbilly, Jazz, Cajun, Country Zydeco, and Blues

G C

Throwin' it out past the walls like some kind of musical centrifuge

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

Old days are comin' back to me

Em D

I don't know what was so good about 'em, I played practically free

G C

But I had nothin' to live up to everywhere to be

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

G C

Yeah, old days are comin' back to me

Em D

I don't know what was so great about 'em, I played practically free

G C

But I had nothin' to live up to everywhere to be

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

Em D G

Old days are comin' back to me

About Old Days Chords by John Hiatt

Learn how to play Old Days by John Hiatt with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Old Days chords”, “Old Days guitar chords”, or “John Hiatt Old Days 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 Old Days chords and for experienced players who want accurate Old Days lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, Em, D.

FAQ — Old Days by John Hiatt

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The chords for "Old Days" show the original chord names (including G, C, Em, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.