Country

Time Marches On Chords

Tracy Lawrence Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Guitar

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Ukulele

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Piano

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Banjo

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Mandolin

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

Time Marches On Chords – Harmonica

Tracy Lawrence’s reflective country ballad about the passage of time and changing lives. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Country 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

Sister cries out from her baby bed

C G

Brother just got his license

D G

Daddy’s in the kitchen with his coffee cup

Em C D

Mama’s in the car with the radio on

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Verse 2

G C G

Brother marries Becky, she’s a Chevy dealer’s daughter

D G

Daddy lets her have the Buick

Em C D

Mama cries and calls her her new daughter

G C G

Sister’s in the back with her headset on

D G

Listening to the radio

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Bridge

Em C G

Sister calls her house in Memphis

D G

Says she’s coming home

Em C G

Becky runs off with the dentist

D G C

Daddy says the Buick’s hers to keep

D G

Mama just cries

Verse 3

G C

Daddy just sits and stares out the window

G D G

Says the rain’s gonna come

Em C D

Mama says his heart is getting weaker

G C G

Sister says she’s gonna have a baby

D G

And I’m just sitting here

Em C D

Thinking ’bout a girl I used to know

Chorus

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

Outro

G C G

And time marches on

D G C

Time marches on

G C G

And soon enough we come to know

D G C D

Where the wind blows and why

G C G

Time marches on

G C G

Time marches on

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, and Em repeats throughout; practice switching between G and C, and D and Em, as these are the most common transitions in the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Time Marches On"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and Em.

Is "Time Marches On" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Time Marches On" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Time Marches On"?

It was written by Bobby Braddock, and released in 1996.