The Old Man's Accordion

Click Here for guitar tabs.

There was laughter and joy on that fine summer's evening,
The children all waited at the old village hall,
For a rock and roll band to come from the city,
To play for the dance at their school closing ball.

Their fun was short-lived, 'cause the band couldn't make it,
Which prompted a shy little fellow to say,
"Let's ask grandpa to play us some music,
'Cause often I've heard his accordion play.

"I know he can't play our new kind of music,
But he sure puts his heart in the music he knows;
Some songs he can sing are the ones he remembers,
When he was a boy long, long years ago."

A short time later, as the others were waiting,
The boy and his grandfather entered the door;
He led the old man to a chair in the corner,
Placed a torn cardboard box by his feet on the floor.

The children all cheered as he took out the accordion,
And laid it in place on his grandfather's knee;
With trembling hands, his gentle old fingers,
Softly ran over the ivory keys.

He said, "I can't play your new kind of music,
But I'll do my best with the music I know;
I hope you'll enjoy the tunes I will play you,
And the songs I remember from long, long ago."

He filled the old place with such beautiful music,
The children could hardly believe it was true;
They danced through the night, such a time they had never,
And the old man smiled as he thought of his youth.

His heart filled with joy as he watched the young couples,
The boys and the girls in their innocent fun;
And he thought of a pretty young golden-haired maiden,
Whose love on a night such as this he had won.

He said, "I don't know your new kind of music,
But thank you for asking this old man to play;
It does my heart good, and it helps me remember,
When I was a youth, like you are today.

"God bless you for asking this old man to play."

####.... Author unknown. Recorded by Simani ....####

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Notes On Guitar Tabs:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.

[D] There was laughter and joy on that fine summer's evening,
[G] The children all waited at the old village [D] hall,
[G] For a rock and roll band to [D] come from the city,
To play for the dance at their [A] school closing [D] ball.

[D] Their fun was short-lived, 'cause the band couldn't make it,
[G] Which prompted a shy little fellow to [D] say,
[G] "Let's ask grandpa to [D] play us some music,
'Cause often I've heard his [A] accordion [D] play.

[G]"I know he can't play our new [D] kind of music,
But he sure puts his heart in the music he [A] knows;
[G]Some songs he can sing are the [D] ones he remembers,
When he was a boy long, [A] long years [D] ago."

[D] A short time later, as the others were waiting,
[G] The boy and his grandfather entered the [D] door;
[G] He led the old man to a [D] chair in the corner,
Placed a torn cardboard box by [A] his feet on the [D] floor.

[D] The children all cheered as he took out the accordion,
[G] And laid it in place on his grandfather's [D] knee;
[G] With trembling hands, his [D] gentle old fingers,
Softly ran over the [A] ivory [D] keys.

[G] He said, "I can't play your new [D] kind of music,
But I'll do my best with the music I [A] know;
[G] I hope you'll enjoy the [D] tunes I will play you,
And the songs I remember from [A] long, long [D] ago."

[D] He filled the old place with such beautiful music,
[G] The children could hardly believe it was [D] true;
[G] They danced through the night, such a [D] time they had never,
And the old man smiled as [A] he thought of his [D] youth.

[D] His heart filled with joy as he watched the young couples,
[G] The boys and the girls in their innocent [D] fun;
[G] And he thought of a pretty young [D] golden-haired maiden,
Whose love on a night such [A] as this he had [D] won.

[G] He said, "I don't know your new [D] kind of music,
But thank you for asking this old man to [A] play;
[G] It does my heart good, and it [D] helps me remember,
When I was a youth, [A] like you are to- [D] day.

[D]"God bless you for asking this [A] old man to [D] play."

~ Chords contributed by Brad Driscoll ~