Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.
Gtap to play
Ctap to play
Dtap to play
Emtap to play
Key
G Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
G · C · D · Em
A poignant country ballad by Jamey Johnson about the stories behind old black-and-white photographs. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.
Steady Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of A, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes shown.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
G C G D
I said, “Grandpa, what’s this picture here? It’s a little faded and it’s worn”
G C G D
He said, “That’s your Uncle John at eighteen years old in the winter of ’45
G C G D Em C
He was stationed overseas in the Philippines, that’s where he learned to fight
G C G D Em C
And he wrote this letter with his own hand, the day his best friend died”
G C
He said, “You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 2
G C G D
This one here was taken down on the farm, ’63
G C G D
I was nine years old, Grandma Ruth, she was holdin’ me
G C G D Em C
We were standin’ in front of that old John Deere, that’s the year it broke down
G C G D Em C
We both stayed there ’til a new one came, it was the last one shipped out of town
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Verse 3
G C G D
This one was my favorite one, this is me and Grandma
G C G D
The day before the heart attack, she was sittin’ there on that porch
G C G D Em C
And I was up there visiting from Atlanta, that’s the day I got in
G C G D Em C
I remember the shirt she had on, the smell of her perfume, the wrinkles in her skin
G C
Yeah, I remember it all”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Bridge
G C G D Em C
He said, “If it looks like we were scared to death, like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
G C
You should’ve seen it in color”
Chorus
G C
A picture’s worth a thousand words
G D
But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered
G C
You should’ve seen it in color
G D Em
You should’ve seen it in color”
Practice tip: Focus on the story as you play; let the emotional weight of the lyrics guide your strumming dynamics, playing softer during the verses and with more emphasis on the choruses.