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When I Write The Book

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F#minor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro] 
A
[Verse 1]
Well I can remAember Dlike it was Eonly yesterdAayD  
LEove was young and foAolish Dlike a lEittle child at plAayD  
But Eoh how lovers chAange -D- I never drEeamed how easilAyD  
for nEow I'm just a shAadow Dof the bEoy I used to bAe
 Oh YDeah  YEeah
[Chorus]
WhAen I write the book aC#7bout my love
It will F#mbe about a man who’s tDorn in half
About his hAopes and ambitions wEasted through the years
The pC#7ain will be written on every F#mpage in teDars
When I wrAite… (when I write the bDook)
…Yeah, the bEook about my lAove
(When I write the bDook about my lEove)
[Verse 2]
I was a fAool to myself Dwhen I kEept on runnin' rAoundD  
And I fEared little bAetter Dwhen I trEied settlin' dAownD  
MayEbe some magic mAomentsD  
I've nEever known one, not for lAongD  
For Eall too soon the mAagic Dis Ein a moment gAone
DWho-oEah
[Chorus]
WhAen I write the book aC#7bout my love
It'll be a F#mheartbreaking story abDout love and luck
When I get dAown on the pages aEll I felt
It will C#7make the hardest-hearted of F#mcritics hearts mDelt
When I wrAite… (when I write the bDook)
…the bEook about my lAove
(When I write the bDook about my lEove)
[Break] 
E  F  F#m  G  E
[Verse 3]
When I was yoAung love was fun and I wDas so hEappyA  
I looked so good, and I drDessed so snEappy
Two-tone shAoes on my feet, big old smDile on my fEace
As I mAoved and grooved all Dover the plEace
Now I'm Adown in the heels, my compDlexion is Ebad
cause my lAove life is sDadder than sEad
[Chorus]
WhAen I write the book aC#7bout my love
It'll be a F#mpop publication, tDougher than tough
When I get dAown on the pages Eall that I missed
It's going stC#7raight to the top of the F#mbest-sellers lDist
When I wrAite… (when I write the bDook)
…Yes, the boEok about Amy love
(When I write the bDook about my lEove)
When I wrAite… (when I write the bDook)
…Yes, the boEok about Amy love
(When I write the bDook about my lEove)A  

All chords in this song (7)

F#m

Barre (Em shape)

244222

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press2 Fret

Skill · find home

F# minor

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

When I Write The Book

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When I Write The Book

by Nick Lowe

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#7

F#m

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

A D E A D

Well I can remember like it was only yesterday

E A D E A D

Love was young and foolish like a little child at play

E A D E A D

But oh how lovers change -- I never dreamed how easily

E A D E A

for now I'm just a shadow of the boy I used to be

D E

Oh Yeah Yeah

[Chorus]

A C#7

When I write the book about my love

F#m D

It will be about a man who’s torn in half

A E

About his hopes and ambitions wasted through the years

C#7 F#m D

The pain will be written on every page in tears

A D

When I write… (when I write the book)

E A

…Yeah, the book about my love

D E

(When I write the book about my love)

[Verse 2]

A D E A D

I was a fool to myself when I kept on runnin' round

E A D E A D

And I fared little better when I tried settlin' down

E A D

Maybe some magic moments

E A D

I've never known one, not for long

E A D E A

For all too soon the magic is in a moment gone

D E

Who-oah

[Chorus]

A C#7

When I write the book about my love

F#m D

It'll be a heartbreaking story about love and luck

A E

When I get down on the pages all I felt

C#7 F#m D

It will make the hardest-hearted of critics hearts melt

A D

When I write… (when I write the book)

E A

…the book about my love

D E

(When I write the book about my love)

[Break]

E F F#m G E

[Verse 3]

A D E A

When I was young love was fun and I was so happy

D E

I looked so good, and I dressed so snappy

A D E

Two-tone shoes on my feet, big old smile on my face

A D E

As I moved and grooved all over the place

A D E

Now I'm down in the heels, my complexion is bad

A D E

cause my love life is sadder than sad

[Chorus]

A C#7

When I write the book about my love

F#m D

It'll be a pop publication, tougher than tough

A E

When I get down on the pages all that I missed

C#7 F#m D

It's going straight to the top of the best-sellers list

A D

When I write… (when I write the book)

E A

…Yes, the book about my love

D E

(When I write the book about my love)

A D

When I write… (when I write the book)

E A

…Yes, the book about my love

D E A

(When I write the book about my love)

About When I Write The Book Chords by Nick Lowe

Learn how to play When I Write The Book by Nick Lowe with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “When I Write The Book chords”, “When I Write The Book guitar chords”, or “Nick Lowe When I Write The Book 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 When I Write The Book chords and for experienced players who want accurate When I Write The Book lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E, C#7, F#m, F.

FAQ — When I Write The Book by Nick Lowe

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What key is "When I Write The Book" in?

The chords for "When I Write The Book" show the original chord names (including A, D, E, C#7, F#m, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.