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Just Once

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
C FM7 Em7 FM7
[Verse 1]
I C9did mFM7y best
But I gEm7uess my best wasn't good enAm7ough
'CauDm7se here we are, back G7where we werEm7e beAm7fore
SeeDm7ms nothin' eveG7sus4r changG7es, wE7sus4e're back E7to bein' Am7stranger;
Dm7Wonderin' if we ought C/Eto stay, or hFM7ead on ouG7sus4t the  G7door.
[Chorus 1]
JCust oG/Cnce can we figurGm7e out what we keC7ep doin' wrong?FM7  
WDm7hy we never lasG7t for very loEm7ng;Am  
What are we Dm7doing wrong?G7sus4  
JCust onG/Cce, can we finGm7d a way to finalC7ly make it rightFM7,
To Dm7make the magic lG7ast for more than Em7just one nAm7ight?
If wDm7e could just get to it, I kG7sus4now we could break throuC9gh FM7it.    C   FM7hmmGm.
[Verse 2]
I C9gave FM7my all,
But Em7think all my have Am7been too much:
The lDm7ord knows we're not gG7etting anywEm7hereAm.
SDm7eems we're alG7sus4ways blG7owin'
WE7sus4hat ever E7we've got gAm7oin',
And it Dm7seems that time was Call we've got; We FM7haven't gG7sus4ot a prG7ayer.
[Chorus 2]
JCust oG/Cnce, can we figuGm7re out what we C7keep doin' wronFM7g,
WDm7hy the good times nevG7er last for lEm7ong?Am  
Where are wDm7e goG7sus4in wronG7g?
JuCst onG/Cce, can we find Gm7a way to finally C7make it rightFM7,
To Dm7make the magic lG7ast for more than Em7just one nigAm7ht?
Dm7I know we could break through it,
If wG7sus4e could just get to it.
[Bridge]
Just Abonce, I want to uFm7nderstand
Why Bbm7it always coEb7sus4mes back to Abgoodbyes.
WBhy BM7can't we get ourseG#m7lves in hand,
AC#m7nd admit to one B/D#another
WEe're no good witB/D#hout each other?
TC#m7ake the best and makB/D#e it betterEm7; Find a way tA7sus4o stay A7together.
[Chorus 3]
          D      A/D            Am9          D7/F#    GM7(F#m7)
Just once, can we find a way to fin'lly make it right,  oh
to Em7make the magic lasA7/Gt for more thaF#m7n just one Bm7night?
I Em7know we could break through it
If A7sus4we could just geA7t to it.
  ....just oncDe.A/D  G/D  A/D  
   D      A/D      Bb   A7(hold)
Woh, we can get to it
       (Coda)
    just once.
[Outro]
D G D/F#  G9  A7sus4 B

All chords in this song (24)

The story behind the song

"Just Once" delves into the raw emotion of a relationship at a crossroads, where one person pleads for a chance to truly connect and understand what might be going wrong. It's a poignant appeal to explore the depths of what they've built together, hoping to find a path forward. The song, composed by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was originally a demo that caught Quincy Jones's ear, leading to James Ingram's powerful vocal performance on Jones's 1981 album, The Dude. It plays like a heartfelt plea for one last, honest effort to save something precious.

AI-written from these sources:Just Once — Wikipedia ↗James Ingram — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Just Once

Just Once

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Chord Book

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

Just Once

by James Ingram

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

FM7

Em7

Am7

Dm7

G7sus4

E7sus4

C/E

G/C

Gm7

Bbm7

Eb7sus4

BM7

G#m7

C#m7

B/D#

[Intro]

C FM7 Em7 FM7

[Verse 1]

C9 FM7

I did my best

Em7 Am7

But I guess my best wasn't good enough

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am7

'Cause here we are, back where we were before

Dm7 G7sus4 G7 E7sus4 E7 Am7

Seems nothin' ever changes, we're back to bein' stranger;

Dm7 C/E FM7 G7sus4 G7

Wonderin' if we ought to stay, or head on out the door.

[Chorus 1]

C G/C Gm7 C7 FM7

Just once can we figure out what we keep doin' wrong?

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am

Why we never last for very long;

Dm7 G7sus4

What are we doing wrong?

C G/C Gm7 C7 FM7

Just once, can we find a way to finally make it right,

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am7

To make the magic last for more than just one night?

Dm7 G7sus4 C9 FM7 C FM7 G

If we could just get to it, I know we could break through it. hmmm.

[Verse 2]

C9 FM7

I gave my all,

Em7 Am7

But think all my have been too much:

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am

The lord knows we're not getting anywhere.

Dm7 G7sus4 G7

Seems we're always blowin'

E7sus4 E7 Am7

What ever we've got goin',

Dm7 C FM7 G7sus4 G7

And it seems that time was all we've got; We haven't got a prayer.

[Chorus 2]

C G/C Gm7 C7 FM7

Just once, can we figure out what we keep doin' wrong,

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am

Why the good times never last for long?

Dm7 G7sus4 G7

Where are we goin wrong?

C G/C Gm7 C7 FM7

Just once, can we find a way to finally make it right,

Dm7 G7 Em7 Am7

To make the magic last for more than just one night?

Dm7

I know we could break through it,

G7sus4

If we could just get to it.

[Bridge]

Ab Fm7

Just once, I want to understand

Bbm7 Eb7sus4 Ab

Why it always comes back to goodbyes.

B BM7 G#m7

Why can't we get ourselves in hand,

C#m7 B/D#

And admit to one another

E B/D#

We're no good without each other?

C#m7 B/D# Em7 A7sus4 A7

Take the best and make it better; Find a way to stay together.

[Chorus 3]

D A/D Am9 D7/F# GM7 F#m7

()

Just once, can we find a way to fin'lly make it right, oh

Em7 A7/G F#m7 Bm7

to make the magic last for more than just one night?

Em7

I know we could break through it

A7sus4 A7

If we could just get to it.

D A/D G/D A/D

....just once.

D A/D Bb A7

(hold)

Woh, we can get to it

(Coda)

just once.

[Outro]

D G D/F# G9 A7sus4 B

About Just Once Chords by James Ingram

Learn how to play Just Once by James Ingram with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Just Once chords”, “Just Once guitar chords”, or “James Ingram Just Once 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 Just Once chords and for experienced players who want accurate Just Once lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, FM7, Em7, C9, Am7, Dm7.

FAQ — Just Once by James Ingram

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Is "Just Once" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Just Once" in?

The chords for "Just Once" show the original chord names (including C, FM7, Em7, C9, Am7, Dm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.