Oct172022

Noah Kahan – Growing Sideways Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

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[Verse 1]
      G
So I took my medication and
     Bm
 I poured my trauma out
         C
On some sad-eyed middle aged man's
 over-priced new leather couch
        Em
And we argued about Jesus finally
   G
 found some middle ground
        C
I said I'm cured

[Verse 2]
          G
And I've divvied up my anger into
   Bm
 thirty separate parts
          C
Keep the bad shit in my liver
and the rest around my heart
               Em
And I'm still angry at my parents
            G
for what their parents did to them
            C
But it's a start

[Pre-Chorus]
              Em
But I ignore things and
          G
 I move sideways
         C
'Till I forget what I felt
                G
in the first place
                   C
At the end of the day I know
            G                      D
there are worse ways to stay alive

[Chorus]
                   Em
'Cause everyone's growing
                G
And everyone's healthy
            C
I'm terrified that I might
                G
never have met me
            C
Oh, if my engine works
              G
perfect on empty
               D
I guess I'll drive
               G
I guess I'll drive

[Verse 3]
         G
So I forgot my medication
      Bm
Fell into a manic high
          C
Spent my savings at a Lulu

Now I'm suffering in style
        Em
Why is pain so damn impatient
                 G
Ain't like it's got a place to be
              C
Keeps rushing me

[Pre-Chorus]
              Em                 G
But I ignore things and I move sideways
         C
'Till I forget what I felt
                G
in the first place
                   C
At the end of the day I know there
       G                      D
are worse ways to stay alive

[Chorus]
                   Em
'Cause everyone's growing
                G
And everyone's healthy
            C
I'm terrified that I might
                 G
 never have met me
            C
Oh, if my engine works
             G
perfect on empty
               D
I guess I'll drive
               G
I guess I'll drive

[Bridge]
        C                G
And if all my life was wasted
         Em                 D
I don't mind I'll watch it go
       C             G
It's better to die numb
                D
than feel at all
        C                G
Oh if all my life was wasted
         Em                 D
I don't mind I'll watch it go
       C             G
It's better to die numb than
            D
 feel at all

[Pre-Chorus]
              Em
So I ignore things and
           G
I move sideways
         C
'Till I forget what
                       G
I felt in the first place
                   C
At the end of the day I know
             G                      D
there are worse ways to stay alive

[Chorus]
                   Em
'Cause everyone's growing
                G
And everyone's healthy
            C
I'm terrified that I might
                G
 never have met me
            C
Oh, if my engine works
              G
perfect on empty
               D
I guess I'll drive
               G
I guess I'll drive

How to play Growing Sideways: key, chords and progression

These are Growing Sideways chords by Noah Kahan on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard.

Growing Sideways by Noah Kahan keeps coming home to G major (one sharp: F♯). You need 5 chords: G, Bm, C, Em and D.

Most of the song cycles through Em – G – C – G (vi – I – IV – I in G major). In solfa, that is lah – doh – fah – doh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: almost every chord here is an open shape on guitar: no capo, no barre chords needed.