They Thought I Was Asleep Chords
by Paul Kelly
They Thought I Was Asleep by Paul Kelly is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of C. It uses the chords C, G, Am, F and Dm. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
C
We were driving back from the country one night
G Am
Mum and Dad up front and the rest of us snug and tight
C
My kid brother grizzled for a little minute
G Am
‘Til my big sister told he’d better quit it or die
F
It had been a long day in the countryside
Dm
Playing’ with the cousins on my mother’s side
C G Am
The sound of the radio closed our eyes drifting across the seat then I fell asleep
C G Am
I don’t know what woke me up, maybe a country song or a big truck passing by
C
But I could hear Momma and Papa talking
G Am
Papa said something and Momma began to cry
F Dm
No more words than just soft sobs and then my head began to throb
C G
I just lay there playing dog breathing slow and deep
Am F G Am
They thought I was asleep, They thought that I was asleep
HARMONICA
C G Am (x2)
F G Am (x2)
C
Well it seemed like forever til the sobbing stopped
G Am
Then they talked for a little just too soft to hear
C
And Daddy kept looking at the side of her face
G Am
One hand on the wheel and one hand stroking her hair
F
The headlights shinin’ from the other way
Dm
Showed tears on the cheeks on Daddy’s face
C
I prayed for Jesus to send his grace
G Am
And all our souls to keep – back then I believed
F G Am
They thought I was asleep
F G Am
The night was dark and deep
F G C
How I wish I was asleep