Who Knew Chords

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If the key of Ab is too rough (as moving quickly to Eb can be tricky), I suggest transposing the tab down one step and using a capo on the first fret (to play the shapes of G, D, Em, D) - it'll sound the same as the original song but be easier to play. I recommend listening to the original version of the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ta3MYtXVtg) to get the feel for the tempo, as the strumming pattern is unusual. Also, this is originally played on a mandolin, which is why the recorded song sounds so bright when compared to a guitar rendition :).Was this info helpful?

Difficulty:	intermediate
Tuning:	E A D G B E
Capo:	no capo

Author pgustaft [a] 147.

2 contributors total, last edit on Jan 22, 2024

Chords

Strumming

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[Verse 1]
Ab       Eb Fm             Eb
If I was a cute little kid
Ab            Eb     Fm              Eb      Ab
I would show you the painting I did, for you
           Eb     Fm   Eb   Ab
But I'm up in the air
              Eb      Fm    Eb
I'm not here, I'm not there
Ab       Eb Fm              Eb
If I was a sad-eyed eighteen
Ab          Eb      Fm                   Eb  Ab
I would cut all the holes in your jeans, for you
             Eb    Fm  Eb  Ab
But now what can I say
               Eb   Fm   Eb
I'm too little too late
 
[Bridge]
Ab Eb Fm Eb Ab Eb Fm Eb
 
[Verse 2]
Ab       Eb Fm             Eb
If I was a middle-aged man
Ab          Eb     Fm          Eb Ab
I would buy you a new minivan, or two
             Eb    Fm    Eb   Ab
But I'm stumbling around
              Eb     Fm     Eb
With one foot on the ground
Ab      Eb Fm               Eb
If I was a hundred and three
Ab             Eb    Fm              Eb   Ab
I would share all my boring stories, with you
               Eb     Fm    Eb
But you caught me too soon, now
Ab           Eb    Fm  Eb
Darling what can I do, now?
Ab     Eb   Fm              Eb
All along I did what I could
Ab           Eb    Fm               Eb  Ab
But you tell me my timings no good, who knew?
 
[Bridge]
Ab Eb Fm Eb  Ab    Eb Fm Eb
         Who knew?
 
[Verse 3]
Ab    Eb Fm         Eb
If I was Marty McFly
Ab         Eb      Fm                 Eb
I would go back to when we were nine, or ten
Ab          Eb        Fm      Eb
And I'd be your best friend
Ab          Eb      Fm     Eb
Say that I knew you when
Ab    Eb   Fm                 Eb
If I was a ghost on your hall,
Ab            Eb      Fm                       Eb   Ab
I would haunt you and walk through your walls, at night
              Eb      Fm    Eb
But I'm flesh and I'm bone
Ab            Eb   Fm    Eb
And I'm stiff as a stone
Ab     Eb   Fm            Eb
All along I did what I could
Ab           Eb    Fm               Eb    Ab
But you tell me my timings no good, who knew?
       Eb   Fm             Eb
All along I did what I could
Ab           Eb    Fm               Eb  Ab
But you tell me my timings no good, who knew?
 
[Bridge]
Ab Eb Fm Eb  Ab    Eb Fm Ab
         Who knew?
 
[Outro]
Ab Eb Fm Eb (x2)
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2 comments

If you transpose -1 and capo 1st fret on the mando it sounds exactly like the song :) thank you so much!

I think it’s “knew you then,” not “knew you when” in the Marty Mcfly verse