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I Was Young When I Left Home

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No playable tab notation detected in this song.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: D-G-D-G-B-d + capo 1st fret / Standard tuning
I don't really know whether a capo is used or whether the strings are
tuned to the key one hears. For the sake of convenience, I’d suggest “Open G”
and then use a capo to match Dylan’s recording (D-G-D-G-B-d leaves three strings
as they are in standard tuning whereas one would have to retune all six strings
If you don't want to take the trouble of re-tuning the strings, I added voicings
for standard tuning in the CHORDS section below.
Dylan uses a Travis picking with many variations. I include a tab of the basic
riff below that can be used to figure out a picking accompaniment or a version
capo: 1st fret
play: G
key: Ab
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Pattern
    G1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  Cadd91 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d  |0---------0-----|----------------|----------------|------0---------|
B 1/3---------3-----|---------------1/3-----1---0—-(1)|------1---1-----|
G 2/4-----4-------4-|---------------2/4-----2---0---0-|------0---0-----|
D  |0---------------|0---------------|0-------------2-|----------2-----|
G  |0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|----------------|
D  |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  D71 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d  |------0---------|----------------|----------------|
B  |1-----1---1-----|1---------------|----------1-----|
G  |0-----0---0-----|2---------------|------0---2-----|
D  |2---------2-----|0---------------|------0---------|
G  |0---------------|0---------------|----------------|
D  |----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
d  |0-----0---------|------0---------|
B 1/3-----3---------|------3---------|
G 2/4---------4-----|4---------4-----|
D  |0---------0-----|0---------0-----|
G  |0---------------|0---------------|
D  |----------------|----------------|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS
Because of the open tuning almost all the chords have a “g” as their root
        D-G-D-G-B-d                            E-A-D-G-B-e
G       x-0-0-4-3-0 and x-0-0-0-0-0-0          3-x-0-0-0-3
C       x-0-2-0-1-0 (= Cadd9/G)                3-x-2-0-1-3 (= C/G)
D7sus4  x-0-0-2-1-0 (= D7sus4/G)               3-x-0-2-1-3 (= D7sus4/G)
   or   0-0-0-2-1-0 (= D7sus4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
|  G| % | % |  C| % |  D7sus4| % |  G| % |
|  G| % |
[Verse 1]
I was Gyoung when I left home
But I been out a-ramblin’ ‘Cround
And I D7sus4never wrote a letter to my D7sus4home
To my Ghome
Lord, to my Chome
And I D7sus4never wrote a letter to my Ghome
[Verse 2]
It was Gjust the other day
I was bringing home my Cpay
When I D7sus4met an old friend I used to D7sus4know
Said your Gmother’s dead and gone
Baby sister’s all gone Cwrong
And your D7sus4daddy needs you home right aGway
[Verse 3]
Not a Gshirt on my back
Not a penny on my Cname
Well I D7sus4can’t go home this-a-D7sus4way
This-a-Gway
Lord, Lord, CLord
And I D7sus4can’t go home this-a-Gway
[Interlude]
|  G| % | % |  C| % |  D7sus4| % |  G| % |
|  G| % |
[Verse 4]
If you Gmiss the train I’m on
Count the days I’m Cgone
You will D7sus4hear that whistle blow a hundred D7sus4miles
A hundred Gmiles, honey baby
Lord Lord CLord
And you’ll D7sus4hear that whistle blow a hundred Gmiles
[Verse 5]
I’m Gplaying on a track
Ma would come and whoop me Cback
On them tD7sus4restles down by old Jim McD7sus4Kay’s
When I Gpay the debt I owe
To the commissary Cstore
I will D7sus4pawn my watch and chain and go Ghome
Go Ghome
Lord Lord CLord
I will D7sus4pawn my watch and chain and go Ghome
[Interlude]
|  G| % | % |  C| % |  D7sus4| % |  G| % |
|  G| % |
[Verse 6]
Used to Gtell Ma sometimes
When I see them riding Cblinds
Gonna D7sus4make me a home out in the D7sus4wind
In the Gwind
Lord in the Cwind
D7sus4Make me a home out in the Gwind
[Verse 7]
I don’t Glike it in the wind
Wanna go back home aCgain
But I D7sus4can’t go home this-a-Gway
This-a-Gway
Lord Lord CLord
And I D7sus4can’t go home this-a-Gway
[Interlude]
|  G| % | % |  C| % |  D7sus4| % |  G| % |
|  G| % |
[Verse 8]
I was Gyoung when I left home
But I been out a-ramblin’ ‘Cround
And I D7sus4never wrote a letter to my D7sus4home
To my Ghome
Lord Lord CLord
And I D7sus4never wrote a letter to my Ghome
[Coda]
|  G| % | % |  C| % |  D7sus4| % |  G|   G  

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

"I Was Young When I Left Home" evokes the universal feeling of striking out on one's own at a tender age, leaving behind the familiar for the unknown. This song fits within Bob Dylan's early work, where he often infused traditional folk themes with his own distinctive lyrical style. It reflects the kind of storytelling deeply rooted in the folk music he explored, hinting at journeys and the passage from youth to experience. Playing this song can feel like stepping into a moment of poignant reflection on beginnings and the path taken.

AI-written from these sources:Bob Dylan — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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I Was Young When I Left Home

by Bob Dylan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D7sus4

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuning: D-G-D-G-B-d + capo 1st fret / Standard tuning

I don't really know whether a capo is used or whether the strings are

tuned to the key one hears. For the sake of convenience, I’d suggest “Open G”

and then use a capo to match Dylan’s recording (D-G-D-G-B-d leaves three strings

as they are in standard tuning whereas one would have to retune all six strings

If you don't want to take the trouble of re-tuning the strings, I added voicings

for standard tuning in the CHORDS section below.

Dylan uses a Travis picking with many variations. I include a tab of the basic

riff below that can be used to figure out a picking accompaniment or a version

capo: 1st fret

play: G

key: Ab

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basic Pattern

G Cadd9

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

d |0---------0-----|----------------|----------------|------0---------|

B 1/3---------3-----|---------------1/3-----1---0—-(1)|------1---1-----|

G 2/4-----4-------4-|---------------2/4-----2---0---0-|------0---0-----|

D |0---------------|0---------------|0-------------2-|----------2-----|

G |0---------------|0---------------|0---------------|----------------|

D |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

d |------0---------|----------------|----------------|

B |1-----1---1-----|1---------------|----------1-----|

G |0-----0---0-----|2---------------|------0---2-----|

D |2---------2-----|0---------------|------0---------|

G |0---------------|0---------------|----------------|

D |----------------|----------------|----------------|

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

d |0-----0---------|------0---------|

B 1/3-----3---------|------3---------|

G 2/4---------4-----|4---------4-----|

D |0---------0-----|0---------0-----|

G |0---------------|0---------------|

D |----------------|----------------|

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHORDS

Because of the open tuning almost all the chords have a “g” as their root

D-G-D-G-B-d E-A-D-G-B-e

G x-0-0-4-3-0 and x-0-0-0-0-0-0 3-x-0-0-0-3

C x-0-2-0-1-0 (= Cadd9/G) 3-x-2-0-1-3 (= C/G)

D7sus4 x-0-0-2-1-0 (= D7sus4/G) 3-x-0-2-1-3 (= D7sus4/G)

or 0-0-0-2-1-0 (= D7sus4)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Intro]

G C D7sus4 G

| | % | % | | % | | % | | % |

| | % |

[Verse 1]

I was young when I left home

But I been out a-ramblin’ ‘round

D7sus4 D7sus4

And I never wrote a letter to my home

To my home

Lord, to my home

D7sus4 G

And I never wrote a letter to my home

[Verse 2]

It was just the other day

I was bringing home my pay

D7sus4 D7sus4

When I met an old friend I used to know

Said your mother’s dead and gone

Baby sister’s all gone wrong

D7sus4 G

And your daddy needs you home right away

[Verse 3]

Not a shirt on my back

Not a penny on my name

D7sus4 D7sus4

Well I can’t go home this-a-way

This-a-way

Lord, Lord, Lord

D7sus4 G

And I can’t go home this-a-way

[Interlude]

G C D7sus4 G

| | % | % | | % | | % | | % |

| | % |

[Verse 4]

If you miss the train I’m on

Count the days I’m gone

D7sus4 D7sus4

You will hear that whistle blow a hundred miles

A hundred miles, honey baby

Lord Lord Lord

D7sus4 G

And you’ll hear that whistle blow a hundred miles

[Verse 5]

I’m playing on a track

Ma would come and whoop me back

D7sus4 D7sus4

On them trestles down by old Jim McKay’s

When I pay the debt I owe

To the commissary store

D7sus4 G

I will pawn my watch and chain and go home

Go home

Lord Lord Lord

D7sus4 G

I will pawn my watch and chain and go home

[Interlude]

G C D7sus4 G

| | % | % | | % | | % | | % |

| | % |

[Verse 6]

Used to tell Ma sometimes

When I see them riding blinds

D7sus4 D7sus4

Gonna make me a home out in the wind

In the wind

Lord in the wind

D7sus4 G

Make me a home out in the wind

[Verse 7]

I don’t like it in the wind

Wanna go back home again

D7sus4 G

But I can’t go home this-a-way

This-a-way

Lord Lord Lord

D7sus4 G

And I can’t go home this-a-way

[Interlude]

G C D7sus4 G

| | % | % | | % | | % | | % |

| | % |

[Verse 8]

I was young when I left home

But I been out a-ramblin’ ‘round

D7sus4 D7sus4

And I never wrote a letter to my home

To my home

Lord Lord Lord

D7sus4 G

And I never wrote a letter to my home

[Coda]

G C D7sus4 G G

| | % | % | | % | | % | |

About I Was Young When I Left Home Chords by Bob Dylan

Learn how to play I Was Young When I Left Home by Bob Dylan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Was Young When I Left Home chords”, “I Was Young When I Left Home guitar chords”, or “Bob Dylan I Was Young When I Left Home 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 I Was Young When I Left Home chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Was Young When I Left Home lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, B, Ab, Cadd9, D7.

FAQ — I Was Young When I Left Home by Bob Dylan

How do I play "I Was Young When I Left Home" by Bob Dylan on guitar?

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Can I transpose "I Was Young When I Left Home" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "I Was Young When I Left Home" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "I Was Young When I Left Home"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "I Was Young When I Left Home" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "I Was Young When I Left Home" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "I Was Young When I Left Home" by Bob Dylan with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bob Dylan below.

What key is "I Was Young When I Left Home" in?

The chords for "I Was Young When I Left Home" show the original chord names (including D, G, B, Ab, Cadd9, D7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.