Dec112021

Alicia Keys feat. Brandi Carlile – Paper Flowers Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsA A7 D Dm G F#Bm E C#C#m F#m Amaj7

KeyKeyCapo

View

These are the chords for Paper Flowers by Alicia Keys feat. Brandi Carlile on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

[Verse 1]
Somebody never told me there’s
  A                 A7
a last time for everything
       D                  Dm
Even a landslide is an opening
                   A G
Turning metal into gold
       F#
So the line is somebody
     Bm    E
never told me

Check out Musical Tips from our BLOG

[Chorus]
D                   Bm
Paper flowers don’t die
                    A G
But neither Do they live
            F#
like you and I
                         Bm  A
Lightning never striking twice
     E
is a lie
Like good things coming
         A A7
when you wait
             D             C#
To tell the truth, I gotta say
          A        G     F#
I don’t believe in yesterday
                       Bm A     E
I don’t wanna live forevеr, anyway
                       A  C#m
For a moment that was never
         F#m
hеre to stay
               Bm    E
Forget about tomorrow
           F#m
For just today

[Verse 2]
Somebody never told me there’s
  A                   A7
a first time for everything
       D             Dm
It’s a free fall, discovery
                   A      G
On the day you get that call
        F#
and the waiting is over
       Bm                         E
It all changes in the blink of an eye

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Chorus]
D                   Bm
Paper flowers don’t die
                    A G
But neither Do they live
             F#
like you and I
                         Bm A
Lightning never striking twice
     E
is a lie
Like good things coming
         A A7
when you wait
            D              C#
To tell the truth, I gotta say
          A        G     F#
I don’t believe in yesterday
                      Bm A
I don’t wanna live forever,
   E
anyway
                      A C#m
For a moment that was never
        F#m
here to stay
              Bm
Forget about tomorrow
	                     E
(Forget about tomorrow)
           F#m
Just for today
               Bm   E
Forget about tomorrow
           A               Amaj7 A7
Just for today (Just for today)
   D         Dm
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Dm       A
Just for today

How to play Paper Flowers: key, chords and progression

Paper Flowers by Alicia Keys feat. Brandi Carlile is centred on B minor (two sharps: F♯, C♯). The song uses 12 chords: A, A7, D, Dm, G, F#, Bm, E, C#, C#m, F#m and Amaj7.

The progression the song keeps returning to is A – G – F# – Bm (VII – VI – V – i in B minor). Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: F#, Bm, C#, C#m and F#m are played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into them slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.