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When You Leave

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Gmajor

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When You Leave		LW111
LW111 plays with capo on the 5th fret. There is a deal of hammering on during the chord 
(Not sure about the C after the F in the Break).The D at the end of each couplet is D 
then Dsus4
GYou left Emfor camp, you left for school
Am/CLeft for the coast when Dthat was cool then
GYou left women, Emone a wife
Am/CTo save your skin yDou wrecked a life and
Amthen thCere's kids its not just one
Glife that you wreck Dyou're on the run
AmYou Cgo to town to start anew
Gthose yoDu left come after you
GIts what you think itEms how you feel
Cthough whDo can say if its all real
GThe darndest thing Emkids grow up
Am/COne day some straDnge adults show up
GThe ones you left are Emright in town
Am/Cthat’s nice yoDu say they'll be around
AmperhCaps they just a bit bereft but
Gthey'll forDgive the one who left
Amsad storiCes can have happy ends
Gperhaps now Dyou can just be friends
GIts what you want its Emhow you feel
Am/Cwhats more you hDope your theory's real
(Break)
FWho would have Cthought or could believe
GThings go so Dbadly when you leave
Fthe skin yCou saved is growing slack and
Gthose you left dDon't want you back
(Instrumental)
GYour powEmer's gone it was pro tem
Am/CThe wife you leDft meant more to them
GIts not juEmst that they side with her
Am/Cyou left and Dwho knew where you were
AmThe Creason that they came to town
Gwas just Dto make that place their own
AmYou reaClised your greatest fear
Gyou are so closDe but hardly here
GIt's what you think   Emit's how you feel
Am/Cand whDat's worse is you know its real

All chords in this song (7)

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When You Leave

by Loudon Wainwright III

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Am/C

When You Leave LW111

LW111 plays with capo on the 5th fret. There is a deal of hammering on during the chord

(Not sure about the C after the F in the Break).The D at the end of each couplet is D

then Dsus4

G Em

You left for camp, you left for school

Am/C D

Left for the coast when that was cool then

G Em

You left women, one a wife

Am/C D

To save your skin you wrecked a life and

Am C

then there's kids its not just one

G D

life that you wreck you're on the run

Am C

You go to town to start anew

G D

those you left come after you

G Em

Its what you think its how you feel

C D

though who can say if its all real

G Em

The darndest thing kids grow up

Am/C D

One day some strange adults show up

G Em

The ones you left are right in town

Am/C D

that’s nice you say they'll be around

Am C

perhaps they just a bit bereft but

G D

they'll forgive the one who left

Am C

sad stories can have happy ends

G D

perhaps now you can just be friends

G Em

Its what you want its how you feel

Am/C D

whats more you hope your theory's real

(Break)

F C

Who would have thought or could believe

G D

Things go so badly when you leave

F C

the skin you saved is growing slack and

G D

those you left don't want you back

(Instrumental)

G Em

Your power's gone it was pro tem

Am/C D

The wife you left meant more to them

G Em

Its not just that they side with her

Am/C D

you left and who knew where you were

Am C

The reason that they came to town

G D

was just to make that place their own

Am C

You realised your greatest fear

G D

you are so close but hardly here

G Em

It's what you think it's how you feel

Am/C D

and what's worse is you know its real

About When You Leave Chords by Loudon Wainwright III

Learn how to play When You Leave by Loudon Wainwright III with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “When You Leave chords”, “When You Leave guitar chords”, or “Loudon Wainwright III When You Leave 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 You Leave chords and for experienced players who want accurate When You Leave lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, D, Dsus4, G, Em.

FAQ — When You Leave by Loudon Wainwright III

How do I play "When You Leave" by Loudon Wainwright III on guitar?

Open the free chords for "When You Leave" by Loudon Wainwright III 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 "When You Leave" by Loudon Wainwright III free?

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Can I transpose "When You Leave" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "When You Leave"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "When You Leave" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "When You Leave" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "When You Leave" by Loudon Wainwright III with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Loudon Wainwright III below.

What key is "When You Leave" in?

The chords for "When You Leave" show the original chord names (including C, F, D, Dsus4, G, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.