don mclean
The song was first released by the singer/songwriter himself on his debut album "Tapestry", Mediarts April 1970. It's been covered or adapted 200 times by very different artists, most successfully by Perry Como, who had his last single hit with this in 1973. King Elvis cut it for "Today" in '75, and then included it with almost every performance until his death.
In fact I've never played this song with any complete, plain chord. I picked it up way back in the seventies, and worked it out classic. Now I'm getting old, my fingers stuck with rheumatism and I think I'd better go for chords myself.
and I love you so • people ask me how
how I've lived 'till now
I tell them I don't know
I guess they understand how lonely life has been
but life began again
the day you took my hand
and yes I know how lonely life can be
shadows follow me and the night won't set me free
but I don't let the evening take me down
now that you're around me
and you love me too • your thoughts are just for me
you set my spirit free
and I'm happy that you do
the book of life is brief and once a page is read
all but love is dead
that is my belief
and yes I know how loveless life can be
shadows follow me and the night won't set me free
but I don't let the evening take me down
now that you're around me
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G Am Am7 D7/9 D7 Gmaj7 G6 and I love you so people ask me how Em Em7 Am Am6 how I've lived 'till now C Am7 D7sus4 D7 I tell them I don't know G Am Am7 D7/9 D7 Gmaj7 G6 I guess they understand how lonely life has been Em Em7 Am Am6 but life began again C D7sus4 G the day you took my hand G Gmaj7 G6 Em7 Am Am7 Am6 Am7 and yes I know how lonely life can be D7sus4 Am6 D6 D7 G Gmaj7 D7/9 D7 shadows follow me and the night won't set me free G Gmaj7 G6 Em7 Am Am7 Am6 Am7 but I don't let the evening take me down D7sus4 Am6 D6 D7 G now that you're around me
