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You Are Old Father William

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Em G C Em
Em G C Em
Am       Em                        G
"You are old, Father William," the young man said
          C                    Em
"And your hair has become very white
    Em                  G
And yet you incessantly stand on your head
       C                         Em
Do you think, at your age, it is right?"
       D
"In my youth," Father William replied to his son
   C                      G
"I feared it might injure the brain
    D
But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none
       C                D
Why, I do it again and again
D
"I am old
I am old
I will tell you again
I am old"
Am       Em                        G
"You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before
          C                    Em
And have grown most uncommonly fat
    Em                  G
Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door
       C                         Em
Pray, what is the reason of that?"
      D
"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his gray locks
  C                      G
"I kept all my limbs very supple
   D
By the use of this ointment, one shilling a box
       C                D
Allow me to sell you a couple?
D
"I am old
I am old
It's a statement, in fact
I am old"
Am       Em                        G
"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak
          C                    Em
For anything tougher than suet
    Em                  G
Yet you finish the goose, with the bones and the beak
       C                         Em
Pray, how did you manage to do it?"
      D
"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law
  C                      G
And argued each case with my wife
   D
And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw
       C                D
Has lasted the rest of my life
D
"I am old
I am old
There's not much more to say
I am old"
Am       Em                        G
"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose
          C                    Em
That your eye was as steady as ever
   Em                  G
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose
       C                         Em
What made you so awfully clever?"
      D
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough"
  C                      G
Said his father, "don't give yourself airs!
   D
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
       C                D
Be off or I'll kick you downstairs
D
"Downstairs
Downstairs
Be off or I'll kick you downstairs!"
Am  Em

You Are Old Father William chords and lyrics

Free chords for You Are Old Father William by They Might Be Giants. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Em G C Em
Em G C Em
I am old
I will tell you again
I am old"
I am old
It's a statement, in fact
I am old"
I am old
There's not much more to say
I am old"
Downstairs
Be off or I'll kick you downstairs!"
Am  Em

You Are Old Father William Chords by They Might Be Giants

Learn how to play You Are Old Father William by They Might Be Giants with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “You Are Old Father William chords”, “You Are Old Father William guitar chords”, or “They Might Be Giants You Are Old Father William 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 You Are Old Father William chords and for experienced players who want accurate You Are Old Father William lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, G, C, Am, D.

Frequently asked questions about You Are Old Father William

How do I play "You Are Old Father William" by They Might Be Giants on guitar?

Open the free chords for "You Are Old Father William" by They Might Be Giants 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 "You Are Old Father William" by They Might Be Giants free?

Yes. The chords for "You Are Old Father William" by They Might Be Giants are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "You Are Old Father William" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "You Are Old Father William"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "You Are Old Father William" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "You Are Old Father William" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "You Are Old Father William" by They Might Be Giants with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by They Might Be Giants below.

What key is "You Are Old Father William" in?

The chords for "You Are Old Father William" show the original chord names (including Em, G, C, Am, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.