If You Were To Wake Up Chords
by Lyle Lovett
If You Were To Wake Up by Lyle Lovett is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of A. It uses the chords A, D and G. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
This thing is a waltz. 3/4 count. I'll tab the first
verse. It should be easy to learn and, in particular, one where
you can elaborate on when you get the time. I'm still listening
to the track to pick up more.
(A little more interesting with a cello and fiddle around)
If you were to
wake up and
D D G
E ---------------------|----2--------------|--------------------|-
B ---------------------|----3--------------|--------------------|-
G -----------------2---|---------------2---|----------------0---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|----3---------------|-
I were be- side you
G D D (hammer off)
E ----0----------------|-------------------|----2---------------|-
B ----3----------------|-------------------|----3---------------|-
G -----------------0---|---------------2---|----4----h2-----0---|-
D ---------------------|----0--------------|----0---------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
would you gently
D D
E ----2----------------|----2--------------|-
B ----3----------------|----3--------------|-
G ----2------------2---|---------------2---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|-
smile dear
D D D
E ---------------------|----2--------------|--------------------|-
B ---------------------|----3--------------|--------------------|-
G -----------------2---|---------------2---|----------------2---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|----0---------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
and whisper my name
D A A (hammer on)
E ----2----------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
B ----3----------------|--------------2----|----2-h3------------|-
G -----------------0---|-------------------|--------------------|-
D ---------------------|----2--------------|----------------2---|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|----0---------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
and would you re-
A A
E ---------------------|-------------------|-
B ----3-h2-------------|----2--------------|-
G ---------------------|----2--------------|-
D -----------------2---|---------------2---|-
A ----0----------------|-------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|-
mem- ber the
D G
E ---------------------|----2--------------|--------------------|-
B ---------------------|----3--------------|--------------------|-
G -----------------2---|---------------2---|----------------0---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|----3---------------|-
way that I held you
D D (hammer off)
E ----0----------------|-------------------|----2---------------|-
B ----3----------------|-------------------|----3---------------|-
G -----------------0---|---------------2---|----4----h2-----0---|-
D ---------------------|----0--------------|----0---------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
and would you
D D
E ----2----------------|----2--------------|-
B ----3----------------|----3--------------|-
G ----2------------2---|---------------2---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|-
want me to
D D A
E ---------------------|----2--------------|--------------------|-
B ---------------------|----3--------------|--------------------|-
G -----------------2---|---------------2---|----------------2---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|----2---------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
hold you a- gain
A D (hammer off)
E -----------------0---|-------------------|----2---------------|-
B ----2-h3-------------|-------------------|----3---------------|-
G ---------------------|--------------2----|----4----h2-----0---|-
D ---------------------|----0--------------|----0---------------|-
A ----0----------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
Time reaches (etc.)
D D
E ----2----------------|----2--------------|-
B ----3----------------|----3--------------|-
G ----2------------2---|---------------2---|-
D ----0----------------|-------------------|-
A ---------------------|-------------------|-
E ---------------------|-------------------|-
D G
If you were to wake up
D
And I were beside you
D
Would you gently smile dear
A
And whisper my name
D G
And would you remember
D
The way that I held you
D A
And would you want me
D
To hold you again
(melody repeats)
Time reaches to you
Just like a willow
That bends to the water
And clings to the shore
And there was a time dear
That once you did love me
And there was a time
You loved me no more
Rain on your window
Light on your pillow
The way you lie sleeping
Is it like before
For there was a time dear
That once you did love me
And there was a time
You loved me no more