Folk, Gospel

Will the Circle Be Unbroken Chords

Traditional Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 2 min read

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.

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 traditional American folk and gospel song often performed as a hymn about loss and faith. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Basic Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a simple down-up strum and focus on changing between the G, C, and D chords cleanly.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

I was standing by my window

G D

On a cold and cloudy day

G C

When I saw the hearse come rolling

G D

For to carry my mother away

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 2

G C

I said to the undertaker undertaker

G D

Please drive slow

G C

For this body you are carrying

G D

Lord, I hate to see her go

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 3

G C

I followed close behind her her

G D

Tried to hold up and be brave

G C

But I could not hide my sorrow

G D

When they laid her in the grave

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Verse 4

G C

I went back home, my home was lonesome

G D

Since my mother, she was gone

G C

All my brothers, sisters crying

G D

What a home so sad and lone

Chorus

G

Will the circle be unbroken

C G

By and by, Lord, by and by

D

There’s a better home a-waiting

G C G

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Practice tip: Practice the chord progression G-C-G-D for the verses and G-C-G-D-G-C-G for the chorus until you can play it without looking at your fretting hand.