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Lydia

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Key of Eb, capo 1, play in D
 D/  G/  Bm/ A  
DLydie lit a GcigarettBme todayA  
DAncient fumbling Gfingers iBmn her Away
From a fGorty year old cBmoffee cup she sAipped a bit of Ggin
BmClosed her eAyes and let the Gmemories in.
DShe lives in Gthe old Bmplace Aall alone,
DKeeps in touch wiGth neighbBmors by Athe phone
GGrows roses on tBmhe graves of heAr firstborn and Ghis father
BmAnd the coal Atrucks never boGther her
Chorus
DOh LBmydie, let him gAo the boy is Ggone
BmHer mother sAtruggled as she Gtore him from her arms
DOh LBmydia your tAears are heaven’s Grain
BmBut she nAever was the Gsame
DA cotton dreGss and sBmatin shAoes
DIndian summer sunG, dressed Bmin amAber hues
GSpending time wBmith a coal mineAr’s sonG  
BmTo an old tiAme fiddle tuneG  
DThe months wGent by jBmust likAe a breeze that year,
DThey wed in June, Gand by tBmhe falAl the boy was here
GWord come down Bmfrom Big Stone, Athere’s a fire Gin the mine
BmAnd eleven mAen they couldn’t Gfind
Chorus
DOh LBmydie, let him gAo the boy is Ggone
BmHer mother sAtruggled as she Gtore him from her arms
DOh LBmydia your tAears are heaven’s Grain
BmBut she nAever was the Gsame
Break 
DShe watched Gthem pulBml him fArom the hole,
DThe overalls he wGore were BmblackeAned by the smoke,
GLydie twice had Bmhad this dream Aand twice it hGad come true
BmAnd when she Asaw his father’Gs boots she knew.
Chorus
DOh LBmydie, let him gAo the boy is Ggone
BmHer mother sAtruggled as she Gtore him from her arms
DOh LBmydia your tAears are heaven’s Grain
BmBut she nAever was the Gsame
DLydie lit a GcigarettBme todayA  
DAncient fumbling Gfingers iBmn her Away
From a fGorty year old cBmoffee cup she sAipped a bit of Ggin
BmClosed her eAyes and let the Gmemories in.

All chords in this song (4)

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Lydia

by Slaid Cleaves

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Key of Eb, capo 1, play in D

D G Bm A

/ / /

D G Bm A

Lydie lit a cigarette today

D G Bm A

Ancient fumbling fingers in her way

G Bm A G

From a forty year old coffee cup she sipped a bit of gin

Bm A G

Closed her eyes and let the memories in.

D G Bm A

She lives in the old place all alone,

D G Bm A

Keeps in touch with neighbors by the phone

G Bm A G

Grows roses on the graves of her firstborn and his father

Bm A G

And the coal trucks never bother her

Chorus

D Bm A G

Oh Lydie, let him go the boy is gone

Bm A G

Her mother struggled as she tore him from her arms

D Bm A G

Oh Lydia your tears are heaven’s rain

Bm A G

But she never was the same

D G Bm A

A cotton dress and satin shoes

D G Bm A

Indian summer sun, dressed in amber hues

G Bm A G

Spending time with a coal miner’s son

Bm A G

To an old time fiddle tune

D G Bm A

The months went by just like a breeze that year,

D G Bm A

They wed in June, and by the fall the boy was here

G Bm A G

Word come down from Big Stone, there’s a fire in the mine

Bm A G

And eleven men they couldn’t find

Chorus

D Bm A G

Oh Lydie, let him go the boy is gone

Bm A G

Her mother struggled as she tore him from her arms

D Bm A G

Oh Lydia your tears are heaven’s rain

Bm A G

But she never was the same

Break

D G Bm A

She watched them pull him from the hole,

D G Bm A

The overalls he wore were blackened by the smoke,

G Bm A G

Lydie twice had had this dream and twice it had come true

Bm A G

And when she saw his father’s boots she knew.

Chorus

D Bm A G

Oh Lydie, let him go the boy is gone

Bm A G

Her mother struggled as she tore him from her arms

D Bm A G

Oh Lydia your tears are heaven’s rain

Bm A G

But she never was the same

D G Bm A

Lydie lit a cigarette today

D G Bm A

Ancient fumbling fingers in her way

G Bm A G

From a forty year old coffee cup she sipped a bit of gin

Bm A G

Closed her eyes and let the memories in.

About Lydia Chords by Slaid Cleaves

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

FAQ — Lydia by Slaid Cleaves

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Is "Lydia" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Lydia" in?

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