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Only the Good Die Young

Billy Joel

 

Chord Guide
32 1 C:    x32010	132 D:    xx0232	12  4 Em7:   022003	21  34 G:    320033
1 3 A7:   x02020

 

Strum Guide

Verse Strum: C               D     Em7       D U X U   U X U D U X U   U X U  (Same for C-D-G progression) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +                                   Chorus Strum:                         G           C M   D     U D U D U X U D U D    (same for D-G progression) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

 

 C                            D (½)               Em7 (½)

Come out, Virginia, don't let me wait

         C                           D (½)      G (½)

You Catholic girls start much too late

             C                       D (½)                   Em7 (½)

Ah but sooner or later it comes down to fate

     C (hold)                  D (hold) 

I might as well be the one

 

                    C                            D (½)            Em7 (½)

Well, they showed you a statue, told you to pray

         C                                  D (½)            G (½)

They built you a temple and locked you away

              C                                D (½)               Em7 (½)

Ah but they never told you the price that you pay

         C (hold)                              D (hold 2)

For things that you might have done

 

Chorus

                                   (G)     C                           (D)   G

Only the good die young,            that's what I say

                     (G)     C                             (D)   G

Only the good die young, only the good die young

 

                          C                         D (½)           Em7 (½)

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd

      C                            D (½)       G (½)

We ain't too pretty, we ain't too proud

        C                           D (½)    Em7 (½)

We might be laughing a bit too loud

               C (hold)                  D (hold) 

Oh, but that never hurt no one

 

              C                    D (½)       Em7 (½)

So come on, Virginia, show me a sign

  C                               D (½)          G (½)

Send up a signal, I'll throw you a line

           C                                      D (½)        Em7 (½)

That stained glass curtain you're hiding behind

  C (hold)                  D (hold 2) 

Never lets in the sun

 

                                      (G)     C                   (D)   G

Darlin', only the good die young,    wo-o-o-oh

                                   (G)    C                   (D)   G

I tell you only the good die young, only the good die young

 

Bridge:

                D (hold)                        C (hold)                   G (2)

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation

                 A7 (2)                         C (2)

You got a brand new soul and a cross of gold

                D (hold)                        C (hold)                   G (2)

But, Virginia, they didn't give you quite enough information

                 A7 (2)                                                            C          D (hold)

You didn't count on me when you were counting on your rosary, oh-oh-oh

 

                C                                    D (½)              Em7 (½)

And they say there's a heaven for those who will wait

  C                                 D (½)      G (½)

Some say it's better but I say it ain't

                C                                      D (½)             Em7 (½)

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints

         C (hold)                        D (hold 2) 

The sinners are much more fun

 

                                                          (G)     C                   (D)   G

You know that only the good die young,           woo-oo-oo baby

                                   (G)    C                   (D)   G

I tell you only the good die young, only the good die young

 

Instrumental Bridge (first half)

 

                D (hold)                                     C (hold)                   G (2)

Said your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation

                       A7 (2)                                              C                     D (hold)

Oh, she never cared for me but did she ever say a prayer for me, no-oh-oh

 

          C                                      D (½)        Em7 (½)

Come out come out come out Virginia don't let me wait

C                     D (½)          G (½)

   You Catholic girls start much too late

C                             D (½)               Em7 (½)

  Sooner or later it comes down to fate

     C (hold)                  D (hold 2) 

I might as well be the one

                                                       (G)     C              (D)   G

You know that only the good die young,           tell you, baby

                                             (G)     C                   (D)   G

You know that only the good die young, only the good die young

 

/ - G - - / C - - - / - D - - / G - - - / x4

 

Hold last G

This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.