Jul202022

Jimmy Webb – When Can Brown Begin Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

[Intro]
Em7  D   Gmaj7  Ab5 Db5 Eb
Bmaj7  A  Em

[Verse 1]
      D              G
To my mind it always seems
            A  A7
a little strange
     D7              Gmaj7
That people won't do the things
                     Dmaj7  Em7
They know they ought to
           Dmaj7
Some folks say the world
      G              A7
ain't never gonna change
          D7
But in my heart I believe
Gmaj7                       Dmaj7
Those are the folks who got to
    D7                 Gmaj7
Who can't or for not to

Check out Musical Tips from our BLOG

[Chorus]
Gmaj7                    Gbm7
The day turns bright and night
turns wonderful
Em7      A7           D
Twilight never really brings
        D7
into an end
Gmaj7                 Gbm7
If white is right and black
         Em7
is beautiful
                   A7
Lord, tell me when can brown begin
         Em7
Tell me, people,
          A7     Em7
when can brown begin

[Verse 2]
         D              G
Fire and water won't be mixed
            A  A7
in, so they say
         D          D7     Gmaj7
But I've seen the steam-clouds
              Gmaj7  Em7
Floating high and free
         D
Salt and pepper don't
    Gmaj7            A7
get in each other's way
                    D7
You know, they just cooked together
Gmaj7                Dmaj7
And when they don't agree,
          D7
they just let each other be

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

[Chorus]
Gmaj7                     Gbm7
The day time's bright but night
time's wonderful
Em7      A7           Dmaj7
Twilight never really brings
     D7
into an end
Gmaj7                 Gbm7
If white is right and black
         Em7
is beautiful
                       A7
Lord, tell me when can brown begin
         Em7
Tell me, people,
         A    A7 Em7
when can brown begin

[Outro]
D  G  Ab Dbsus4  Eb
B  A  Em7  D  G  Ab7
Eb  B  A  Em7  D  G  Ab

How to play When Can Brown Begin: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for When Can Brown Begin by Jimmy Webb on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

When Can Brown Begin by Jimmy Webb keeps coming home to D major (two sharps: F♯, C♯). You need 18 chords: Em7, D, Gmaj7, Ab5, Db5, Eb, Bmaj7, A, Em, G, A7 and D7 and 6 more.

Listen for D7 – Gmaj7 – Gbm7 – Em7 (I7 – IVmaj7 – iii7 – ii7 in D major): the song comes back to it again and again. In solfa, that is doh – fah – mi – reh. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Good to know: on guitar, Ab5, Db5, Eb, Bmaj7 and Gbm7 need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.