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There Was A Time

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
There doesn't seem to be any transcriptions of this song in standard E tuning.
I find that for an acoustic version, E tuning is far better and makes it easier too,
since the song is in B minor and that's an easy key to play in.
(Chord instructions are at the bottom of the page, for those interested)
Intro:
Bm F#m E Bm Bm6
BmBroken glass and cigarettes
AWritin' on the wall
It was a baErgain for the summer
And I tBhought I had it all
I was the Bmone who gave you everything
The Aone who took the fall
You were the Eone who would do anything
The Bone who can't recall
Where she Bmwas while she was sleepin'
In aAnother women's bed
Or the dEoctor's or the lawyer's
Or the sBtranger that she met
If there's Bmnothing I can gain from this
Or aAnything at all
It'd be the kEnowledge that you gave me
When I tEhought I'd heard it all
[Chorus]
It was a lEong time for Fmaj7#11you
It wG6as a lEong time for Fmaj7#11me
It'd bG6e a lEong time for anFmaj7#11yone but
ELooks like Fmaj7#11it's meant to G6be
[Same chords as last verse]
Social class and registers
Cocaine in the hall
All the way from California
On the way to your next call
To those non-negotiations
To simulate a cause
For the betterment of evils
And your ways around the laws
That keep you up and sitting pretty
On a pedestal or bed
And now you're sleeping like an angel
Never mind who you gave head
If there's somethin' I can make of this
Or anything at all
It'd be the devil hates a loser
And you thought you had it all
[Chorus]
It was the wrong time for you
It was the wrong time for me
It was the wrong time for anyone but
Looks like I'm 'bout to see for myself
DIf I could go C#mback in time
To the pE7lace in my soul
There all alone
GLonely teardrops, F#ooh
Are callin' yBmou
But AI don't want to know it nGow
Cause knowin' yF#mou
It won't change a damn EthingE7  
But there was a BmtimeBm6  
Solo backing:
Bm   A   E   Bm(x2)
Bm F#m E E7
Bm A E E7
BmYeah there was a time
ADidn't wanna know it all...
EDidn't wanna know it all...
(E7)
And I don't wanna know it now (Repeat once more)
[Gtr. melody backing]
Bm A E E7
BmI would do aAnything for yEou
There was a time
BmI would do aAnything for yEou
BmI would do aAnything for yEou
There was a time
(Just keep playing Bm, A, E, (E7) throughout the rest of the song, with the
long solo and the crazy coda)
Chords used:
A: B: Bm: Bm6: C#m: D:
x-0-2-2-2-0 x-2-4-4-4-2 x-2-4-4-3-2 x-2-0-1-0-x x-4-6-6-5-4 x-x-0-2-3-2
E: E7: Fmaj7#11: F#: F#m: G:
0-2-2-1-0-0 0-2-2-1-3-0 1-3-3-2-0-0 2-4-4-3-2-2 2-4-4-2-2-2 3-2-0-0-3-3
G6:
3-5-5-4-0-0
All chords in this song (13)

The story behind the song

This song is a heavily layered, melody-driven orchestral piece that sets a bluesy piano and cinematic passage against some of the highest notes the singer has ever belted. It features a mesmerizing cocktail of minimalist hip-hop beats, lush string arrangements, and transcendent guitar solos, sometimes alongside ear-piercing, tortured screams. Written by Axl Rose, Paul Tobias, Dizzy Reed, and Tommy Stinson, it appeared on the 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Playing it feels like navigating a complex emotional landscape, where beauty and intensity intertwine.

AI-written from these sources:There Was a Time (Guns N' Roses song) — Wikipedia ↗Guns N' Roses — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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About There Was A Time Chords by Guns N' Roses

Learn how to play There Was A Time by Guns N' Roses with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “There Was A Time chords”, “There Was A Time guitar chords”, or “Guns N' Roses There Was A 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 There Was A Time chords and for experienced players who want accurate There Was A Time lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, B, Bm, F#m, Bm6, A.

FAQ — There Was A Time by Guns N' Roses

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What key is "There Was A Time" in?

The chords for "There Was A Time" show the original chord names (including E, B, Bm, F#m, Bm6, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.