Jan122020

tobyMac – 21 Years Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

ChordsG C D Em

KeyKeyCapo

View

This is the chords of 21 Years by tobyMac on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[Intro]
G C G D

[Verse 1]
G
Woke up ’cause the light poured in
C
Day two, let the flood begin
G
Day one left me in my bed (In my bed)
D
I can barely remember it
Em
Heart shattered in a thousand ways
C
They tell me pain gonna come in waves
G
They tell me I’m gonna be okay
D
I’m still waitin’ for the first to break

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Em
Why would You give and then take him away?
C
Suddenly end, could You not let it fade?
G
What I would give for a couple of days
D
A couple of days

[Chorus]
G
Is it just across the Jordan?
C
Or a city in the stars?
G
Are you singin’ with the angels?
D
Are you happy where you are?
Em
Well, until this show is over
C
And you run into my arms
G D
God has you in Heaven
G C
But I have you in my heart
G D
I have you in my heart
G C G D

[Verse 2]
G
I just can’t make sense of this
C
Everything is so dissonant
G
Somebody said he was meant for this
D
But I’m just straight missin’ him
Em
I wanna wake up to your laugh at two
C
Catch you when you steal my shoes
G
Say good mornin’, afternoon
D
Talk you through those “Alex blues” (Alex blues)
Em
Listen to your latest beats
C
Talk about what the lyrics mean
G
Venmo you another loan (Another loan)
D
See you do your second show

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Em
You said you’d turn, you would turn it around (Turn it around)
C
Thought that you had time to straighten it out (Straighten it out)
G
Told me that you were my prodigal son
D
But this isn’t home

[Bridge]
Em C
Did he see You from a long way off (Did he see you?)
Em C
Runnin’ to him with a father’s heart? (Runnin’ to him)
Em C
Did You wrap him up inside Your arms
G D
And let him know that he’s home?
Em C
Did he see You from a long way off
Em C
Runnin’ to him with a father’s heart?
Em C
Did You wrap him up inside Your arms
G D
And let him know that he’s home?

[Outro]
G
21 years makes a man full-grown
C
21 years, what a beautiful loan
G
21 years, I love every one
Da
Thank You, Lord, for my beautiful son

How to play 21 Years: key, chords and progression

21 Years by tobyMac is written in G major (one sharp: F♯) and moves through 4 chords: G, C, D and Em.

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

Beginner-friendly: on guitar every chord is an open shape, which makes this a good song to learn early on.