Now playing

Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be

Chords

4.9191 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
BmMy father sits at night with Gmaj7no lights on
BmHis cigarette glows in the Gdark
Dm7The living room is still
Cmaj7I walk by, Am7no remarkAb  G  
BmI tiptoe past the mastGmaj7er bedroom where
BmMy mother reads her magaGzines
Dm7I hear her call sweet dreams
Cmaj7But I forgot how Amto dreamAb  G  
[Chorus]
FBut you say it's time we Emmoved in together
Dm7And raised a family of ouCmaj7r own, you and me
FWell, that's the way I've always Emheard it should be
You want to Amarry me
We'll Dmarry
[Verse 2]
BmMy friends from college, they're all Gmaj7married now
BmThey have their houses and their Glawns
Dm7They have their silent noons
Cmaj7Tearful nights, angry AmdawnsAb  G  
BmTheir children hate them for the Gmaj7things they're not
BmThey hate themselves for what they Gare
Dm7And yet they drink, they laugh
Cmaj7Close the wound, hide the Am7scarAb  G  
[Chorus]
FBut you say it's time we Emmoved in together
Dm7And raised a family of ouCmaj7r own, you and me
FWell, that's the way I've always Emheard it should be
You want to Amarry me
We'll Dmarry
[Verse 3]
BmYou say we that can keep our Gmaj7love alive
BmBabe, all I know is what I Gsee
Dm7The couples cling and claw
Cmaj7And drown in love's AmdebrisAb  G  
BmYou say we'll soar like two birds Gmaj7through the clouds
BmBut soon you'll cage me on your Gshelf
Dm7I'll never learn to be
Cmaj7Just me first, bAm7y myselfAb  G  
[Chorus]
FWell, okay, it's time we Emmoved in together
Dm7And raised a family of ouCmaj7r own, you and me
FWell, that's the way I've always Emheard it should be
You want to Amarry me
We'll Dmarry

All chords in this song (12)

The story behind the song

This song captures the bittersweet feeling of questioning expectations around love and marriage. It paints a picture of a relationship that seems to follow all the traditional steps – moving in together, getting married – yet the narrator observes a quiet distance in the lives of those who came before, like a father sitting in the dark, or couples with "silent noons." The song subtly wonders if this well-trodden path truly leads to happiness, or if it might lead to forgetting how to dream. It's a thoughtful reflection on the gap between what we're told love should be and what it often feels like.

AI-written from these sources:Carly Simon — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be

Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

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

Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be

by Carly Simon

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Gmaj7

Dm7

Cmaj7

Am7

[Verse 1]

Bm Gmaj7

My father sits at night with no lights on

Bm G

His cigarette glows in the dark

Dm7

The living room is still

Cmaj7 Am7 Ab G

I walk by, no remark

Bm Gmaj7

I tiptoe past the master bedroom where

Bm G

My mother reads her magazines

Dm7

I hear her call sweet dreams

Cmaj7 Am Ab G

But I forgot how to dream

[Chorus]

F Em

But you say it's time we moved in together

Dm7 Cmaj7

And raised a family of our own, you and me

F Em

Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be

You want to marry me

We'll marry

[Verse 2]

Bm Gmaj7

My friends from college, they're all married now

Bm G

They have their houses and their lawns

Dm7

They have their silent noons

Cmaj7 Am Ab G

Tearful nights, angry dawns

Bm Gmaj7

Their children hate them for the things they're not

Bm G

They hate themselves for what they are

Dm7

And yet they drink, they laugh

Cmaj7 Am7 Ab G

Close the wound, hide the scar

[Chorus]

F Em

But you say it's time we moved in together

Dm7 Cmaj7

And raised a family of our own, you and me

F Em

Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be

You want to marry me

We'll marry

[Verse 3]

Bm Gmaj7

You say we that can keep our love alive

Bm G

Babe, all I know is what I see

Dm7

The couples cling and claw

Cmaj7 Am Ab G

And drown in love's debris

Bm Gmaj7

You say we'll soar like two birds through the clouds

Bm G

But soon you'll cage me on your shelf

Dm7

I'll never learn to be

Cmaj7 Am7 Ab G

Just me first, by myself

[Chorus]

F Em

Well, okay, it's time we moved in together

Dm7 Cmaj7

And raised a family of our own, you and me

F Em

Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be

You want to marry me

We'll marry

About Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be Chords by Carly Simon

Learn how to play Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be by Carly Simon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be chords”, “Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be guitar chords”, or “Carly Simon Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be 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 Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be chords and for experienced players who want accurate Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bm, Gmaj7, G, Dm7, Cmaj7, Am7.

FAQ — Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be by Carly Simon

How do I play "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon 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 "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon free?

Yes. The chords for "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Carly Simon below.

What key is "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" in?

The chords for "Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" show the original chord names (including Bm, Gmaj7, G, Dm7, Cmaj7, Am7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.