Chords with lyrics
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
Key: G+G
Difficulty: Intermediate
G=(3 2 x x 3 3)
D=(x x 0 2 3 2)
Bm=(x 2 4 4 3 2)
A=(x 0 2 2 2 0)
Em7/B=(x 2 2 x 3 3)
D/F#=(2 x x x 3 3)
Cadd9=(x 3 2 x 3 3)
Csus2=(x 3 x x 3 3)
G/B=(x 2 x x 3 3)
Em7=(x x 2 x 3 3)
Twenty Years Ago
Intro:
G+G G+G D MajorD D MajorD G+G G+G D MajorD D MajorD
Verse 1:
G+G
Well, I was at that smart-ass time of my life,
When I’d pick a fight just to pick a fight
D MajorD
If he said black, I said white, if he took one side I took the other side
G+G
The dinner table we sat around, was more like a battleground
D MajorD
And I lost more times than I won, I woulda learned later on
B minorBm G+G A augmentedA
That he was always preachin’ ‘bout his past
B minorBm G+G A augmentedA
I just kept screamin’ “Come on, Dad!”
Chorus 1:
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
That was twenty years ago, you don’t know me at all!
G+G A augmentedA
Tryin’ to talk to you is like talkin’ to the wall
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
Yeah, you gave me my life, but it’s my life to live
D/F#D/F# G+G A augmentedA G+G D MajorD
Maybe I don’t wanna live it like you did, Twenty years ago
Verse 2:
G+G
He was built with blue collar sweat and blood, square jaw and a crew cut
D MajorD
A augmentedA purple heart, a Viet Vet, he'd tell you every chance he'd get
G+G
Always runnin’ down my rock n' roll, my friends, my hair, my clothes
D MajorD
One night it all got out of control, and right there we came to blows
B minorBm G+G A augmentedA B minorBm G+G A augmentedA
And that was just enough to get me gone, I couldn't wait to prove him wrong!
Chorus 2:
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
Twenty years ago, I struck out on my own
G+G A augmentedA
Couldn't tell me nothin’, I didn’t already know
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
Yeah, I was on my way, what the hell did I care
D/F#D/F#
About my old man and his gray hair
G+G A augmentedA Em7/BEm7/B B minorBm Em7/BEm7/B B minorBm
Thought about the road I chose, twenty years ago
Bridge 1:
Em7/BEm7/B
Well I left as fast as the leaves fell that autumn
B minorBm Em7/BEm7/B
I never looked back and I never once called him, but every time I talked to Momma
B minorBm
I wondered if he was there, or if he even cared
Em7/BEm7/B
I figured I walked out on him and the course of our love had run
B minorBm
Momma said 'no, no, you listen to me son,
Em7/BEm7/B
He’s a stubborn man and he won't give in.
B minorBm
He believes what he believes, well you’re just like him'
Bridge 2:
Cadd9Cadd9 Csus2Csus2 Cadd9Cadd9
Well I could tell by her voice that there was something wrong
Cadd9Cadd9
She broke down, and said he ain’t got long
Csus2Csus2 Cadd9Cadd9
So I caught the next plane home, thought about all the years gone
Cadd9Cadd9 Csus2Csus2
How my pride had let so much time go by
G/BG/B E minor 7Em7
I ran up those stairs and stood by his bed and I cried
Chorus 3:
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
Twenty years ago, I thought I knew it all
G+G A augmentedA
But tryin’ to talk to me, was like talkin’ to the wall
D MajorD Em7/BEm7/B
I thought I was a man, actin’ like I did
D/F#D/F# G+G
But all I want right now, is just to be your kid
Outro:
Em7/BEm7/B D/F#D/F# G+G
Just before my dad gave up the ghost
Em7/BEm7/B D/F#D/F# G+G A augmentedA G+G
He took my hand and said "son let it go”, that was twenty years ago
G+G
Twenty years ago