Now playing

Once I Was

Chords

4.7159 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

ONCE I WAS - Tim Buckley
[Intro] (x2)
(with harmonica solo!)
|    C|     |   Fmaj7|
[Verse]
|   C|            |   Fmaj7|
     Once I was a soldier
|        C|                 |        Fmaj7|
    And I fought on foreign sands for you
|   C|            |   Fmaj7|
     Once I was a hunter
|        C|                  |       Fmaj7|
    And I brought home fresh meat for you
|   C|            |   Fmaj7|
     Once I was a lover
|        C|                    |       Fmaj7|
    And I searched behind your eyes for you
|     C|                 |   Fmaj7|
   But soon there'll be another
|     C|              |       Fmaj7|
    To tell you I was just a lie
[Chorus]
|       Am|         |    |       |     F|           |    G|
     But  someti-----------mes I wonder   just for awhile
|          Am|     |    |             |  G|  |  Am|
    Will you eve-----------r remember me--------
[Interlude] (I wish I could play the harmonica)
|    C|     |   Fmaj7| x2
[Verse]
And though you have forgotten
all of our rubbish dreams
I find myself searching
through the ashes of our ruins
For the days when we smiled
and the hours that ran wild
With the magic of our eyes
and the silence of our words
[Chorus]
|       Am|         |    |       |     F|           |    G|
     But  someti-----------mes I wonder   just for awhile
|          Am|     |    |             |  G|  |  Am|  |  |
    Will you eve-----------r remember m--------e
|  G|     |  |           | Am|  |Am  
    ever        remember me-------
This song is from the album Goodbye and Hello and there's an acoustic
version on the double live album Dream Letter.
  The song has a 3/4-beat and a "|" represents a measure mark. Just
strum the acoustic and let your voice sing like Tim's and it will
sound like....?! You could try to incorporate the harmonica solo in
your guitar playing or maybe whistle that part if you can't play
the harmonica (I can't).

All chords in this song (5)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Once I Was

by Tim Buckley

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Fmaj7

ONCE I WAS - Tim Buckley

[Intro] (x2)

(with harmonica solo!)

C Fmaj7

| | | |

[Verse]

C Fmaj7

| | | |

Once I was a soldier

C Fmaj7

| | | |

And I fought on foreign sands for you

C Fmaj7

| | | |

Once I was a hunter

C Fmaj7

| | | |

And I brought home fresh meat for you

C Fmaj7

| | | |

Once I was a lover

C Fmaj7

| | | |

And I searched behind your eyes for you

C Fmaj7

| | | |

But soon there'll be another

C Fmaj7

| | | |

To tell you I was just a lie

[Chorus]

Am F G

| | | | | | | |

But someti-----------mes I wonder just for awhile

Am G Am

| | | | | | | |

Will you eve-----------r remember me--------

[Interlude] (I wish I could play the harmonica)

C Fmaj7

| | | | x2

[Verse]

And though you have forgotten

all of our rubbish dreams

I find myself searching

through the ashes of our ruins

For the days when we smiled

and the hours that ran wild

With the magic of our eyes

and the silence of our words

[Chorus]

Am F G

| | | | | | | |

But someti-----------mes I wonder just for awhile

Am G Am

| | | | | | | | | |

Will you eve-----------r remember m--------e

G Am Am

| | | | | | |

ever remember me-------

This song is from the album Goodbye and Hello and there's an acoustic

version on the double live album Dream Letter.

The song has a 3/4-beat and a "|" represents a measure mark. Just

strum the acoustic and let your voice sing like Tim's and it will

sound like....?! You could try to incorporate the harmonica solo in

your guitar playing or maybe whistle that part if you can't play

the harmonica (I can't).

About Once I Was Chords by Tim Buckley

Learn how to play Once I Was by Tim Buckley with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Once I Was chords”, “Once I Was guitar chords”, or “Tim Buckley Once I Was 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 Once I Was chords and for experienced players who want accurate Once I Was lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Fmaj7, Am, F, G.

FAQ — Once I Was by Tim Buckley

How do I play "Once I Was" by Tim Buckley on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Once I Was" by Tim Buckley 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 "Once I Was" by Tim Buckley free?

Yes. The chords for "Once I Was" by Tim Buckley are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Once I Was" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Once I Was"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Once I Was" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Once I Was" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Once I Was" by Tim Buckley with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tim Buckley below.

What key is "Once I Was" in?

The chords for "Once I Was" show the original chord names (including C, Fmaj7, Am, F, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.