[Intro]

Gm Gm Eb  F Bb Bb


[Refrain]

Gm7                    Bb                Eb
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me
                                           F
Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely
Gm7                    Bb     Eb
Once I was seven years old


[Verse]
Gm                        Bb
   It was a big, big world, but we thought we were bigger
Eb                                           F
   Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker
Gm                   Bb
   By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor
Eb                                        F
   Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure


[Refrain]

Gm7                       Bb            Eb
Once I was eleven years old, daddy told me,
                                    F       
Go get yourself a wife or you'll be lonely
Gm7                     Bb         Eb
Once I was eleven years old


[Verse]

Gm                  Bb                                 
  I always had that dream like my daddy before me
Eb                                      F               Gm
  So I started writing songs, I started writing stories
Gm                        Bb
Something about that glory, just always seemed to bore me
       Eb                                 F           Gm
‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me


[Refrain]

Gm7                         Bb               Eb
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
Eb                                    F     Gm
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Gm7                     Bb          Eb
Once I was twenty years old


[Verse]

Gm              Bb
  I only see my goals, I don't believe in failure
Eb                                           F            Gm
  ‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
Gm                   Bb         
I got my boys with me, at least those in favor
    Eb                                          F            Gm
And if we don't see before I leave, I hope I'll see you later


[Refrain]

Gm7                 Bb                Eb
Once I was 20 years old, my story got told
Eb                                     F         Gm
I was writing about everything I saw before me
Gm7                 Bb     Eb
Once I was 20 years old

Gm7                    Bb                       Eb
Soon we'll be 30 years old, our songs have been sold
                                                F      Gm
We've traveled around the world and we're still roaming
Gm7                    Bb       Eb       Bb
Soon we'll be 30 years old


[Verse]

    Gm              F   Bb
I'm still learning about life,
Bb
my woman brought children for me
Eb
So I can sing them all my songs
          F                Gm
and I can tell them stories
Gm          
Most of my boys are with me,
Bb
some are still out seeking glory
    Eb
And some I had to leave behind,
           F               Gm
my brother I'm still sorry


[Bridge]

Gm7                   Bb
Soon I'll be 60 years old, my daddy got 61
Eb                                         F         Gm7
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one
Gm7                   Bb
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
Eb
I hope my children come and visit, once or twice a month


[Refrain]

Gm7                      Bb                             Eb
Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
                                         F      Gm7
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me
Gm7                Bb
Soon I'll be 60 years old

Gm7                      Bb                             Eb
Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
                                         F      Gm7
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me
Gm7                Bb
Soon I'll be 60 years old


[Verse]

Gm               Bb                        Eb
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me
                                           F     Gm
Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely
                      Bb      Eb    Bb
Once I was seven years old
Gm              F         Bb
Once I was seven years old