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The Picture

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CThere are C/Bpictures on thAme piano
FPictures of the Gfamily
CMoC/Bstly my Amkids but there's an old
FPicture of Cyou and me
EmYou were five and I was FsixFadd9  
EmIn 19G52
CThat C/Bwas forty Amyears ago
GHow could it be Ctrue?
CWe were sitting C/Boutside Amdrawing
FAt a table meant for Gcards
CAnd it must have C/Bbeen in Amautumn
FFalling leaves in the front Gyard
EmWith a shoe box full of FcrayonsFadd9  
EmFull of colors oh so Gbright
CIn a picture in a C/Bplastic Amframe
GA snapshot black and Cwhite
CYou were looking C/Bat my Ampaper
FWatching what I Gdrew
CIt was C/Bnatural: I was Amolder
FThirteen months more than Cyou
EmA brother and a FsisterFadd9  
EmA little boy and Ggirl
CAnd whoever C/Btook that Ampicture
GCaptured our own Cworld
CA brother C/Bneeds a Amsister
FTo watch what he can Gdo
CTo protect C/Band to Amtorture
FTo boss around it's tCrue
EmBut a brother will Fdefend herFadd9  
EmFor a sister's love is Gpure
CBecause she C/Bthinks he's Amwonderful
GWhen he is not so Csure
CIn the picture C/Bthere's a Amfender
FOf our old GChevrolet
COr PonC/Btiac, our Amdad would know
FSurely he could Gsay
EmBut dad is dead and Fwe grow olFadd9d
EmIt's true that time flies Gby
CAnd in forty C/Byears the Amworld has changed
As Gwell as you and CI

All chords in this song (7)

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The Picture

by Loudon Wainwright III

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/B

Fadd9

C C/B Am

There are pictures on the piano

F G

Pictures of the family

C C/B Am

Mostly my kids but there's an old

F C

Picture of you and me

Em F Fadd9

You were five and I was six

Em G

In 1952

C C/B Am

That was forty years ago

G C

How could it be true?

C C/B Am

We were sitting outside drawing

F G

At a table meant for cards

C C/B Am

And it must have been in autumn

F G

Falling leaves in the front yard

Em F Fadd9

With a shoe box full of crayons

Em G

Full of colors oh so bright

C C/B Am

In a picture in a plastic frame

G C

A snapshot black and white

C C/B Am

You were looking at my paper

F G

Watching what I drew

C C/B Am

It was natural: I was older

F C

Thirteen months more than you

Em F Fadd9

A brother and a sister

Em G

A little boy and girl

C C/B Am

And whoever took that picture

G C

Captured our own world

C C/B Am

A brother needs a sister

F G

To watch what he can do

C C/B Am

To protect and to torture

F C

To boss around it's true

Em F Fadd9

But a brother will defend her

Em G

For a sister's love is pure

C C/B Am

Because she thinks he's wonderful

G C

When he is not so sure

C C/B Am

In the picture there's a fender

F G

Of our old Chevrolet

C C/B Am

Or Pontiac, our dad would know

F G

Surely he could say

Em F Fadd9

But dad is dead and we grow old

Em G

It's true that time flies by

C C/B Am

And in forty years the world has changed

G C

As well as you and I

About The Picture Chords by Loudon Wainwright III

Learn how to play The Picture by Loudon Wainwright III with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Picture chords”, “The Picture guitar chords”, or “Loudon Wainwright III The Picture 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 Picture chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Picture lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, C/B, Am, F, G, Em.

FAQ — The Picture by Loudon Wainwright III

How do I play "The Picture" by Loudon Wainwright III on guitar?

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Can I transpose "The Picture" to a different key?

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Can I see chord diagrams for "The Picture"?

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

Is "The Picture" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Picture" by Loudon Wainwright III with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Loudon Wainwright III below.

What key is "The Picture" in?

The chords for "The Picture" show the original chord names (including C, C/B, Am, F, G, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.