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Only the Good Die Young

Billy Joel

RockMedium for beginners6 chords

How to play it

Fingering diagrams for the shapes in this song. × = don't play, ○ = open string.

F
C×
G
Am×
D××
Dm××

Chords & lyrics

Chord names sit directly above the word where you change.

Text size
 
               F                   C/G             Am  
Come out Virginia,  don't let me me wait
    F                      G      C   
You Catholic girls start  much too late
    F                   C/G          Am   
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
               F                           G  
            I might as well be the one
 
      F                        C/G         Am  
They showed you a statue and  told you to pray
     F                         G         C   
They built you a temple and  locked you away
    F                         C/G            Am  
But they never told you the  price that you pay
     F                          G
For things that you might have done.....
       G         G                   C         F             G  
           For   only the good die   young     that's what I said
       C            C             F            G             
          Only the good die young   only the  good die young
 
  C                 F                   C/G          Am  
     You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
   F                   G              C   
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
   F                   G           Am  
We might be laughing a bit too loud
   F                          G
But that never hurt no one
 
 G       F                    C/G     Am    
      So come on Virginia  show me a sign
  F                        G           C   
  Send up a signal I'll  throw you the line
    F                              C/G       Am   
The stained-glass curtain you're   hiding behind
 F                        G
  Never lets in the sun
       G         G                 C        F        G  
         Darlin  only the good die  young        woh - oh
       C           C            F          G             
          Only the good die young   only the  good die young
 
  C             G                   F                    C   
      You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
  C          D                  D        F
   You got a brand new soul        And a cross of gold
  F            G                         F                 C     
       But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
  C              D            D                            F     
     You didn't count on me When you were counting on your rosary
 
   C    Dm   C     G        
   Oh   oh   oh    And_they
F                         C/G            Am   
Say there's a heaven for those who will wait
F                         G             C    
Some say it's better but  I say it ain't
           F                           G              Am    
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than  cry  with the saints
    F 
The sinners are much more fun...
       G       G                C       F              G  
       You know  only the good die  young      that's what I say
       C           C            F          G             C  
          Only the good die young   only the  good die young
 
    G    F     C     C     D     D    F  
 
  F              G                                
    You say your  mother told you all that I could 
   F                     C  
   Give you was a reputa-tion     
  C         D           D                       F          
   She never cared for me  But did she ever say a prayer for me?
   C   Dm  C    G        
   Oh   oh   oh    And_they
          
 

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Chord set

F · C · G · Am · D · Dm

Practice tip

Loop the first two chords slowly until the change is clean, then add the rest.