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The Vacant Chair

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
A    E    A
[Verse 1]
AWe shall meet but we shall miss him, Dthere will be one vacant Achair; Awe shall linger to caress Ahim,
AWhile we breBathe our ev'ning Epray'r when a yeAar ago we gathered, joy was Din his mild blue Aeyes,
ABut a golden cAhord is severed, And our hopes in Eruin  Alie.
[Chorus]
AWe shall Dmeet but we shall Amiss him, thAere will be one vacaEnt chair,
EWe shall Alinger to caDress him, while we Abreathe oEur ev'ning prAay'r.
[Instrumental]
A   D     E  A
[Verse 2]
AAt our fireside, sad and lonely,often wDill the bosom sAwell  aAt remembrance of the story,A  
How our Bnoble Willie Efell; hoEw he Astrove to bear our banner through the Dthickest of the Afight,
AAnd uphold our country's honor, in the strength Eof manhood's Anight.
[Chorus]
AWe shall Dmeet but we shall Amiss him, thAere will be one vacaEnt chair,
EWe shall Alinger to caDress him, while we Abreathe oEur ev'ning prAay'r.
[Verse 3]
ATrue, they tell us wreaths of glory ever Dmore will deck his Abrow, but this soothes the Aanguish only,
Sweeping Bo'er our heartstrings Enow. sleep Atoday, oh early fallen, in thy gDreen and narrow Abed,
ADirges from the pine and cypress mingle with the Etears we sAhed.
[Outro]
AWe shall Dmeet but we shall Amiss him, thAere will be one vacaEnt chair,
EWe shall Alinger to caDress him, while we Abreathe oEur ev'ning prAay'r.

All chords in this song (4)

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The Vacant Chair

by Kathy Mattea

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

A E A

[Verse 1]

A D A A A

We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair; we shall linger to caress him,

A B E A D A

While we breathe our ev'ning pray'r when a year ago we gathered, joy was in his mild blue eyes,

A A E A

But a golden chord is severed, And our hopes in ruin lie.

[Chorus]

A D A A E

We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,

E A D A E A

We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.

[Instrumental]

A D E A

[Verse 2]

A D A A A

At our fireside, sad and lonely,often will the bosom swell at remembrance of the story,

B E E A D A

How our noble Willie fell; how he strove to bear our banner through the thickest of the fight,

A E A

And uphold our country's honor, in the strength of manhood's night.

[Chorus]

A D A A E

We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,

E A D A E A

We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.

[Verse 3]

A D A A

True, they tell us wreaths of glory ever more will deck his brow, but this soothes the anguish only,

B E A D A

Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now. sleep today, oh early fallen, in thy green and narrow bed,

A E A

Dirges from the pine and cypress mingle with the tears we shed.

[Outro]

A D A A E

We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,

E A D A E A

We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.

About The Vacant Chair Chords by Kathy Mattea

Learn how to play The Vacant Chair by Kathy Mattea with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Vacant Chair chords”, “The Vacant Chair guitar chords”, or “Kathy Mattea The Vacant Chair 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 The Vacant Chair chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Vacant Chair lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E, D, B.

FAQ — The Vacant Chair by Kathy Mattea

How do I play "The Vacant Chair" by Kathy Mattea on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Vacant Chair" by Kathy Mattea 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 "The Vacant Chair" by Kathy Mattea free?

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Can I transpose "The Vacant Chair" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Vacant Chair"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Vacant Chair" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Vacant Chair" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Vacant Chair" by Kathy Mattea with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Kathy Mattea below.

What key is "The Vacant Chair" in?

The chords for "The Vacant Chair" show the original chord names (including A, E, D, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.