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Why

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Cminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
  Cm     Ab     Cm     F/A
 Fm   Eb/G    Ddim   G      C
[Verse 1]
C+2We rode into town Fthe other G/Bday,
    CJust C/Eme and my daFddy.G  
CHe said I’d finalFly reachG/Bed the age
CAnd I could ride GmnexCt to him oFn a horseC/E  
DmThat of course was not qG/Buite as wide
C/EWe heard a Fcrowd of pG/Beople sChouting,
C/EAnd so we stFopped to fG/Bind out why.
CThere was that man Gmthat Cmy dad sFaid he lovedC/E  
DmBut today there was fear in his Gsuseyes.Fm  Bb/D  
[Chorus]
EbSo I said, “Daddy whBb/Dy are they screaming? 
CmWhy are the faces of sEb/Bbome of them beEb/Gaming?
AbWhy is he dressed in that Eb/Gbright purple robe?
FmI’ll bet that crown hurts him Abmore than he sBb/Dhows.
EbDaddy, please, can’t yBb/Dou do something?
CmHe looks as thougEb/Gh he’s gonna F/Acry. 
FmYou said he was stronger Eb/Gthan all of those guys.
AbDaddy please G/Btell me why,Cm  Eb/Bb  
FmWhy does Bbeveryone want Ebhim to dDmie?G”
[Verse 2]
(same chords as VERSE 1)
Later that day Fthe G/Bsky grew cloCudy
             C/ECFA            G  C  
And Daddy said I should go inside.
Somehow he kFnew things could get sC/Etormy.
                 GmEGC                       Dm  C  
Boy, was he right! But I could not keep from wonderin’
If tFhere was something he had to hideG  
             CFA    G/B
So after he left I had to find out.
           FCFA           G/B  C  
I was not afraid of getting lost.
So I followed the crGmowds Cto a hiF/Cll where I knew men
had been kiDmlled,
                    FCFA            G  
And I heard a voice call from the cross
[Chorus 2]
(same chords except where noted)
And he said, “FatEbher why are Bb/Dthey screaming?
CmWhy are the faces of somEb/Bbe of them beEb/Gaming?
AbWhy are they casting their lEb/Gots for my robe?
FmThis crown of thorns hurts me mAbore than it shows.Bb/D  
Father, Ebplease, can’t You do sBb/Domething?
CmI know that You Eb/Gmust hear my F/Acry.
FmI thought I could handle a crEb/Goss of this size.
AbFather remG/Bind me Cmwhy, Eb/Bbwhy does eFmveryone Eb/Gwant me F/Ato die
C/DOh, when wGmill I underF/Astand why?G/B  Bb/C  Bb/D  C/E  
[Chorus 3]
FMy precious Son, EmI hear theAm screaming,
Dmand I’m watching the face F/Cof the enemy beaming.
BbBut soon I will clothe You Dmin robes of my own.
GmJesus, this hurts Me much Bb/Dmore than You know.
C/EBut this dark Fhour I must do  Edimnothing
A7Though I’ve hDmeard Your unbF/Cearable cGry.
GmThe pow’r in Your blood destF/Aroys all of the lies.
BbSoon You’ll see past their unDmmerciful eyes.
GmLook there below, Bb/Fsee thEdime childA7  
DmTrembling by her fG7ather’s side.
GmNow I can tell You F/Awhy, Bb  
Bb/DShe is why C7You must dieDm.Bb  Dm  F/A  
 Bb  C/E    D

All chords in this song (24)

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Why

by Nichole Nordeman

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F/A

Eb/G

Ddim

C/E

G/B

Gsus

Bb/D

Eb/Bb

F/C

C/D

Bb/C

Edim

[Intro]

Cm Ab Cm F/A

Fm Eb/G Ddim G C

[Verse 1]

C+2 F G/B

We rode into town the other day,

C C/E F G

Just me and my daddy.

C F G/B

He said I’d finally reached the age

C Gm C F C/E

And I could ride next to him on a horse

Dm G/B

That of course was not quite as wide

C/E F G/B C

We heard a crowd of people shouting,

C/E F G/B

And so we stopped to find out why.

C Gm C F C/E

There was that man that my dad said he loved

Dm Gsus Fm Bb/D

But today there was fear in his eyes.

[Chorus]

Eb Bb/D

So I said, “Daddy why are they screaming?

Cm Eb/Bb Eb/G

Why are the faces of some of them beaming?

Ab Eb/G

Why is he dressed in that bright purple robe?

Fm Ab Bb/D

I’ll bet that crown hurts him more than he shows.

Eb Bb/D

Daddy, please, can’t you do something?

Cm Eb/G F/A

He looks as though he’s gonna cry.

Fm Eb/G

You said he was stronger than all of those guys.

Ab G/B Cm Eb/Bb

Daddy please tell me why,

Fm Bb Eb Dm G

Why does everyone want him to die?”

[Verse 2]

(same chords as VERSE 1)

F G/B C

Later that day the sky grew cloudy

C/E G C

CFA

And Daddy said I should go inside.

F C/E

Somehow he knew things could get stormy.

Gm Dm C

EGC

Boy, was he right! But I could not keep from wonderin’

F G

If there was something he had to hide

CFA G/B

So after he left I had to find out.

F G/B C

CFA

I was not afraid of getting lost.

Gm C F/C

So I followed the crowds to a hill where I knew men

had been killed,

F G

CFA

And I heard a voice call from the cross

[Chorus 2]

(same chords except where noted)

Eb Bb/D

And he said, “Father why are they screaming?

Cm Eb/Bb Eb/G

Why are the faces of some of them beaming?

Ab Eb/G

Why are they casting their lots for my robe?

Fm Ab Bb/D

This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.

Eb Bb/D

Father, please, can’t You do something?

Cm Eb/G F/A

I know that You must hear my cry.

Fm Eb/G

I thought I could handle a cross of this size.

Ab G/B Cm Eb/Bb Fm Eb/G F/A

Father remind me why, why does everyone want me to die

C/D Gm F/A G/B Bb/C Bb/D C/E

Oh, when will I understand why?

[Chorus 3]

F Em A

My precious Son, I hear them screaming,

Dm F/C

and I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming.

Bb Dm

But soon I will clothe You in robes of my own.

Gm Bb/D

Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know.

C/E F Edim

But this dark hour I must do nothing

A7 Dm F/C G

Though I’ve heard Your unbearable cry.

Gm F/A

The pow’r in Your blood destroys all of the lies.

Bb Dm

Soon You’ll see past their unmerciful eyes.

Gm Bb/F Edim A7

Look there below, see the child

Dm G7

Trembling by her father’s side.

Gm F/A Bb

Now I can tell You why,

Bb/D C7 Dm Bb Dm F/A

She is why You must die.

Bb C/E D

About Why Chords by Nichole Nordeman

Learn how to play Why by Nichole Nordeman with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Why chords”, “Why guitar chords”, or “Nichole Nordeman Why 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 Why chords and for experienced players who want accurate Why lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Cm, Ab, F/A, Fm, Eb/G, Ddim.

FAQ — Why by Nichole Nordeman

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Can I transpose "Why" to a different key?

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Can I see chord diagrams for "Why"?

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Is "Why" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Why" in?

The chords for "Why" show the original chord names (including Cm, Ab, F/A, Fm, Eb/G, Ddim). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.