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If You Could Read My Mind

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If You Could Read My Mind
Album: American V: A Hundred Highways
Artist: Johnny Cash
[Intro]
A
[Verse 1]
AIf you could read my mind, love
GWhat a tale my thoughts could tell
AJust like an old time movie
G'bout a ghost from a wishing-well
AIn a castle dark or a foDrtress strong
EWith chains upon my F#mfeet
You Dknow that ghost is mAe
AnDd I will never F#mbe set free
As Bm7long as I'm a gEhost you can't Asee
[Verse 2]
AIf I could read your mind, love
GWhat a tale your thoughts could tell
AJust like a paperback novel
GThe kind that drugstores sell
AWhen you reach the part where the hDeartaches come
The Ehero would be mF#me
AnDd heroes often fAail
DAnd you won't read that F#mbook again
Bm7Because the ending's jusEt too hard to taAke
[Middle Section]
A  G  A  G
AI'd walk away like a movDie star
Who gets bEurned in a three way sF#mcript
And Denter number Atwo
A Dmovie queen to pF#mlay the scene
Bm7Of bringing all the Egood things out in mAe
But Dfor now, love, let's Abe real
I Dnever thought I could acF#mt this way
And I've Bm7got to say that I just Edon't get it
I Ddon't know where F#mwe went wrong 
But the Bm7feeling's gone
And I juEst can't get it baAck
A  G  A  G
[Verse 3]
AIf you could read my mind, love,
GWhat a tale my thoughts could tell
AJust like an old time movie
G'bout a ghost from a wishing-well
AIn a castle dark or a foDrtress strong
EWith chains upon my F#mfeet
The Dstory always Aends
AnDd if you read betF#mween the lines
You’ll kBm7now that I’m just tErying to undeArstand
The Dfeeling that you Alack
I Dnever thought I could feeF#ml this way
And I've Bm7got to say that I jEust don't get it
I Ddon't know where wF#me went wrong 
But the Bm7feeling's gone
And I juEst can't get it back
  A    Gend on A  

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

This song delves into the emotional landscape of a relationship in decline, inspired by Gordon Lightfoot's own divorce. He wrote the lyrics while reflecting on the end of a personal connection, comparing the events to a ghost movie and a paperback romance novel. The core of the song expresses a poignant confusion and loss, captured in the line, "I don't know where we went wrong. But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back." It's a journey through the quiet ache of a love fading away.

AI-written from these sources:If You Could Read My Mind — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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If You Could Read My Mind

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Bm7

If You Could Read My Mind

Album: American V: A Hundred Highways

Artist: Johnny Cash

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

If you could read my mind, love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old time movie

'bout a ghost from a wishing-well

A D

In a castle dark or a fortress strong

E F#m

With chains upon my feet

D A

You know that ghost is me

D F#m

And I will never be set free

Bm7 E A

As long as I'm a ghost you can't see

[Verse 2]

If I could read your mind, love

What a tale your thoughts could tell

Just like a paperback novel

The kind that drugstores sell

A D

When you reach the part where the heartaches come

E F#m

The hero would be me

D A

And heroes often fail

D F#m

And you won't read that book again

Bm7 E A

Because the ending's just too hard to take

[Middle Section]

A G A G

A D

I'd walk away like a movie star

E F#m

Who gets burned in a three way script

D A

And enter number two

D F#m

A movie queen to play the scene

Bm7 E A

Of bringing all the good things out in me

D A

But for now, love, let's be real

D F#m

I never thought I could act this way

Bm7 E

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

D F#m

I don't know where we went wrong

Bm7

But the feeling's gone

E A

And I just can't get it back

A G A G

[Verse 3]

If you could read my mind, love,

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old time movie

'bout a ghost from a wishing-well

A D

In a castle dark or a fortress strong

E F#m

With chains upon my feet

D A

The story always ends

D F#m

And if you read between the lines

Bm7 E A

You’ll know that I’m just trying to understand

D A

The feeling that you lack

D F#m

I never thought I could feel this way

Bm7 E

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

D F#m

I don't know where we went wrong

Bm7

But the feeling's gone

And I just can't get it back

A G A

end on

About If You Could Read My Mind Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play If You Could Read My Mind by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “If You Could Read My Mind chords”, “If You Could Read My Mind guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash If You Could Read My Mind 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 If You Could Read My Mind chords and for experienced players who want accurate If You Could Read My Mind lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, D, E, F#m, Bm7.

FAQ — If You Could Read My Mind by Johnny Cash

How do I play "If You Could Read My Mind" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "If You Could Read My Mind" by Johnny Cash 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 "If You Could Read My Mind" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "If You Could Read My Mind" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "If You Could Read My Mind" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "If You Could Read My Mind" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "If You Could Read My Mind"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "If You Could Read My Mind" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "If You Could Read My Mind" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "If You Could Read My Mind" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "If You Could Read My Mind" in?

The chords for "If You Could Read My Mind" show the original chord names (including A, G, D, E, F#m, Bm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.