Mar232019

Ruben – Lay By Me Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

Updated January 9, 2026

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This is the chord progression of Lay By Me by Ruben on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Verse 1]
Em C G
I stripped it down for your naked eyes
Em C G
So you could understand and let me inside
Em C G
So I hope you know through the rising tide
Am C G
That I’ll be here and you can lay by my side

[Pre-Chorus 1]
C D Em
Oh, oh, oh
G D
You can rely on me, you know
C D Em
Oh, oh, oh
G D
When this town is locked and closed
You can…

[Chorus]
C G Em
Lay by me, I still care
C G Em
When you need, lay by me
C G Em
Lay by me, if you’re here
C G Em
You can still, lay by me
C G
(Hey-oh-yeah
Em C G
Oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-oh-oh-oh)

[Verse 2]
Em C G
I know the places you go to hide
Em C G
I’ve been in all those rooms I know what that’s like
Em C G
Staring at paint as you watch it dry
Am C G
But don’t forget your room is right next to mine

[Pre-Chorus 2]
C D Em
And you can lay by me
C Am G D
If that is something you would need, yeah
C D Em D
Lay by me, if you need
Em
You can…

[Chorus]
C G Em
Lay by me, I still care
C G Em
When you need, lay by me
C G Em
Lay by me, if you’re here
C G Em
You can still, lay by me

C G Em
Lay by me, I still care
C G Em
When you need, lay by me
C G Em
Lay by me, if you’re here
C G Em
You can still, lay by me
C G
(Hey-oh-yeah
Em C G
Oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-oh-oh-oh
Em
Hey-oh)

C G Em
Lay by me, I still care
G Em
When you need, lay by me
G Em
Lay by me, if you’re here
G
You can still, lay by me

How to play Lay By Me: key, chords and progression

Lay By Me by Ruben keeps coming home to G major (one sharp: F♯). You need 5 chords: Em, C, G, Am and D.

The backbone of the song is Em – C – G – Em (vi – IV – I – vi in G major). In solfa, that is lah – fah – doh – lah. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.

Beginner-friendly: every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.