Folk, Country

If We Were Vampires Chords

Jason Isbell Beginner Key of A 5 Chords 4 min read

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Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

A Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Am · G · C · F · Dm

Jason Isbell’s poignant ballad about love and mortality from the album *The Nashville Sound*. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G, C, D, and Em shapes to sound in the key of A. This makes the chords easier for beginners.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C D

It’s not the snow, it’s not the sleet, it’s not the freezing rain

G C D

Won’t slow me down, or knock me off the track

G C D Em

I’ve got a fire in my belly and a lady on my back

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Verse 2

G C D

It’s not the whiskey, it’s not the weed, it’s not the cocaine

G C D

Won’t pick me up or hold me when I’m down

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I found

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Verse 3

G C D

It’s not the money, it’s not the fame, it’s not the diamond ring

G C D

I’m not afraid of anything at all

G C D Em

I’ve got a woman who loves me more than life itself, I call

G C D G

And I’ll be fine as long as she’s the one who wakes me up each day

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Bridge

C G D

It’s knowing that this can’t go on forever

C G D

Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone

C G D

Maybe we’ll get forty years together

C G D

But one day I’ll be gone or one day you’ll be gone

Chorus

C G

But if we were vampires and death was a joke

D Em

We’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke

C G D

And laugh at all the lovers and their plans

C G D

I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand

C G D

Maybe time running out is a gift

C G D

I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift

C G D

And give you every second I can find

C G D

And hope it isn’t me who’s left behind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, gentle strumming pattern. The emotional weight of the song comes from the lyrics, so keep your playing simple and consistent to support your singing.