SEASONS IN THE SUN

Terry Jacks

(Any copyright which may be vested in the original author of the song used in this lesson is acknowledged. Portions of the song are used here solely for educational purposes. Copyright in the material used in this lesson vests in the author of the material.)

 D/         /               /       /    /
     Adieu Emile my trusted friend
                      /                   Em/     /    /
     We've known each other since we were nine or ten
              A7/                     D/     /
     Together we've climbed hills and trees
                /            Em/
     Learned of love and A B C's
                 A7/                    D/    /    /
     Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.
            /                /    /    /
     Adieu Emile its hard to die
                   /                 Em/    /    /
     While all the birds are singing in the sky
              A7/              D/
     Now that spring is in the air
            /              Em/
     Pretty girls are everywhere
              A7/            D/      /
     Think of me and I'll be there.
CHORUS 1:
       /          /          Em/            /
We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun
        A7/            /               /              D/    /    /
But the hills we would climb were just seasons out of time.

             /                  /     /    /
     Adieu papa please pray for me
               /                  Em/  /    /
     I was the black sheep of the family
                  A7/                 D/
     You tried to teach me right from wrong
              /                 Em/
     Too much wine and too much song
            A7/        D/    /    /
     Wonder how I got along.
             /              /     /    /
     Adieu papa its hard to die
                   /                 Em/    /    /
     While all the birds are singing in the sky
              A7/              D/
     Now that spring is in the air
            /             Em/
     Little children everywhere
              A7/              D/      /
     When you see them I'll be there.
CHORUS 2:
       /          /          Em/            /
We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun
        A7/          /             /                D/    /    /
But the wine and the song like the seasons have all gone

               /                /     /    /
     Adieu Francoise my trusted wife
                    /               Em/    /     /
     Without you it would've been a lonely life
                 A7/               D/
     You cheated lots of times but then
          /               Em/
     I forgave you in the end
              A7/          D/     /     /
     For your lover was my friend.
               /                 /    /    /
     Adieu Francoise its hard to die
                  /                 Em/    /    /
     When all the birds are singing in the sky
              A7/              D/
     Now that spring is in the air
               /           Em/
     With your lovers everywhere
             A7/             D/      /
     Just be careful I'll be there.
CHORUS 3:
       /          /          Em/            /
We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun
        A7/            /               /               D/    /
But the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach

Instructions

All the chords you need for this song are shown above. You have two new chords in this song, A7 and Em which are both relatively easy. Click on each of them to hear how they should sound

Click here to hear the song itself (recorded with capo on first fret).

Practice changing your chords in the sequence they appear in the song
Now practice your basic 4/4 strum following the chords of the song.
Then practice your new pick strum with the chords of the song.
When you feel reasonably relaxed - start singing the song.

Timing is quite difficult in this song where you often have a lot of words to fit into one pick. For instance:

D/           /              /       /    /
1    2  3  4 1   2  3    4  1234    1234 1
     Adieu Emile my trusted friend
                      /                   Em/     /    /
      2     3     4   1     2     3   4   123  4  1234 1
     We've known each other since we were nine or ten

If you feel the song is pitched too low for you, do try your capo on the first, second or third fret. If you take it any higher your guitar will start to sound a little like a ukelele!