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A Good Time

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                        A Good Time - John Prine
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Tuning: Standard (CAPO 3rd fret)
[Verse 1]
DTime was Gonce just a Dclock to me
And Dlife was just a Gbook a biograAphy
SuccDess was Gsomething you just Dhad to be
And DI would spend myGself unknowinAgly
[Chorus]
And you Gknow that I could Ahave me a Dmillion more friends 
And Gall Id have to lose is my point of Aview
But I Dhad no idea what a Ggood time would cost
Till last Anight when I sat and talked with Dyou.
[Verse 2]
An Dapple will Gspoil if its Dbeen abused
A Dcandle disapGpears when its been Aused
A Drainbow may Gfollow up a Dhurricane 
And DI can't leave foGrever on a Atrain
[Chorus]
And you Gknow that Id surAvive if I Dnever spoke again
And Gall Id have to lose is my vanAity
But I Dhad no idea what a Ggood time would cost
Till last Anight when you sat and talked with Dme.
[Solo]
D   G   D
D   G   A
D   G   D
D   G   A
G   A   D
G       A
D       G
A       D
[Verse 3]
You can Dsmile for the Glack of something Delse to do
And Dno one will Glaugh and point at Ayou
If your Dtears didnt Galways make me Dfeel so bad
DWould you still cry every Gtime that you felt Asad? 
[Chorus]
I Gthought Id heard and Aseen enough to Dget along
Till Gyou said something neither of us Aknew
And I Dhad no idea what a Ggood time would cost
Till last Anight when I sat and talked with DyoGu.D  A  D  

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

John Prine was a singer-songwriter known for his unique blend of humor and social commentary, alongside sweet and melancholy songs. This song, appearing on his 1973 album Sweet Revenge, embodies his knack for finding the wry observations in everyday life. It plays like a gentle, unassuming invitation to simply enjoy the present moment.

AI-written from these sources:John Prine — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

A Good Time

by John Prine

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Good Time - John Prine

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuning: Standard (CAPO 3rd fret)

[Verse 1]

D G D

Time was once just a clock to me

D G A

And life was just a book a biography

D G D

Success was something you just had to be

D G A

And I would spend myself unknowingly

[Chorus]

G A D

And you know that I could have me a million more friends

G A

And all Id have to lose is my point of view

D G

But I had no idea what a good time would cost

A D

Till last night when I sat and talked with you.

[Verse 2]

D G D

An apple will spoil if its been abused

D G A

A candle disappears when its been used

D G D

A rainbow may follow up a hurricane

D G A

And I can't leave forever on a train

[Chorus]

G A D

And you know that Id survive if I never spoke again

G A

And all Id have to lose is my vanity

D G

But I had no idea what a good time would cost

A D

Till last night when you sat and talked with me.

[Solo]

D G D

D G A

D G D

D G A

G A D

G A

D G

A D

[Verse 3]

D G D

You can smile for the lack of something else to do

D G A

And no one will laugh and point at you

D G D

If your tears didnt always make me feel so bad

D G A

Would you still cry every time that you felt sad?

[Chorus]

G A D

I thought Id heard and seen enough to get along

G A

Till you said something neither of us knew

D G

And I had no idea what a good time would cost

A D G D A D

Till last night when I sat and talked with you.

About A Good Time Chords by John Prine

Learn how to play A Good Time by John Prine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Good Time chords”, “A Good Time guitar chords”, or “John Prine A Good Time 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 A Good Time chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Good Time lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, G.

FAQ — A Good Time by John Prine

How do I play "A Good Time" by John Prine on guitar?

Open the free chords for "A Good Time" by John Prine 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 "A Good Time" by John Prine free?

Yes. The chords for "A Good Time" by John Prine are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "A Good Time" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "A Good Time"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "A Good Time" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "A Good Time" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "A Good Time" by John Prine with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by John Prine below.

What key is "A Good Time" in?

The chords for "A Good Time" show the original chord names (including A, D, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.