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San Diego Serenade

Chords

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SAN DIEGO SERENADE  (Tom Waits)
Capo on 1st fret.
[Intro]
  Bb    C     F(x2)
[Intro Verse]
FI never saw the mAorning 'til I Dmstayed up all F7night
BbI never saw the sCunshine 'til you Fturned out the Dmlight
BbI never saw my hCometown until I sFtayed away too Dmlong
BbI never heard the mCelody, until I Bbneeded a Fsong.
[Bridge/Intro]
  Bb    C     F(x2)
[Verse 2]
FI never saw the wAhite line, 'til I was Dmleaving you beF7hind
BbI never knew I nCeeded you 'til I was Fcaught up in a Dmbind
BbI never spoke 'I Clove you' 'til I Fcursed you in vDmain,
BbI never felt my hCeartstrings, until I Bbnearly went inFsane.
[Bridge/Intro]
  Bb    C     F(x2)
[Verse 3]
FI never saw the eAast coast 'til I Dmmove to the F7west
BbI never saw the mCoonlight until it Fshone off of your Dmbreast
BbI never saw your Cheart 'til someone.F.tried to steal, tried to steal it aDmway
BbI never saw your tCears, until they Bbrolled down your Fface.
[Bridge/Intro]
  Bb    C     F(x2)
[Outro Verse]
FI never saw the mAorning 'til I Dmstayed up all F7night
BbI never saw the sCunshine 'til you Fturned out your Dmlove light, baby
BbI never saw my hCometown until I sFtayed away too Dmlong
BbI never heard the mCelody, until I Bbneeded a Fsong.
[Outro] 
  Bb    C     F(x3)

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

This song captures a feeling of wistful longing, a serenade perhaps to a city or a lost connection. It evokes the kind of atmosphere Tom Waits is known for, exploring the lives and emotions of those on society's fringes. Playing this song, you step into a world of introspection and heartfelt expression, much like the "adrift and downtrodden" characters Waits often portrays. At its heart, it plays like a tender, late-night confession.

AI-written from these sources:Tom Waits — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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San Diego Serenade

by Tom Waits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

SAN DIEGO SERENADE (Tom Waits)

Capo on 1st fret.

[Intro]

Bb C F

(x2)

[Intro Verse]

F A Dm F7

I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night

Bb C F Dm

I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out the light

Bb C F Dm

I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long

Bb C Bb F

I never heard the melody, until I needed a song.

[Bridge/Intro]

Bb C F

(x2)

[Verse 2]

F A Dm F7

I never saw the white line, 'til I was leaving you behind

Bb C F Dm

I never knew I needed you 'til I was caught up in a bind

Bb C F Dm

I never spoke 'I love you' 'til I cursed you in vain,

Bb C Bb F

I never felt my heartstrings, until I nearly went insane.

[Bridge/Intro]

Bb C F

(x2)

[Verse 3]

F A Dm F7

I never saw the east coast 'til I move to the west

Bb C F Dm

I never saw the moonlight until it shone off of your breast

Bb C F Dm

I never saw your heart 'til someone..tried to steal, tried to steal it away

Bb C Bb F

I never saw your tears, until they rolled down your face.

[Bridge/Intro]

Bb C F

(x2)

[Outro Verse]

F A Dm F7

I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night

Bb C F Dm

I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out your love light, baby

Bb C F Dm

I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long

Bb C Bb F

I never heard the melody, until I needed a song.

[Outro]

Bb C F

(x3)

About San Diego Serenade Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play San Diego Serenade by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “San Diego Serenade chords”, “San Diego Serenade guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits San Diego Serenade 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 San Diego Serenade chords and for experienced players who want accurate San Diego Serenade lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Bb, C, F, A, Dm, F7.

FAQ — San Diego Serenade by Tom Waits

How do I play "San Diego Serenade" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "San Diego Serenade" by Tom Waits 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 "San Diego Serenade" by Tom Waits free?

Yes. The chords for "San Diego Serenade" by Tom Waits are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "San Diego Serenade" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "San Diego Serenade"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "San Diego Serenade" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "San Diego Serenade" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "San Diego Serenade" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "San Diego Serenade" in?

The chords for "San Diego Serenade" show the original chord names (including Bb, C, F, A, Dm, F7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.