Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Only the Good Die Young" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

F                  C/G          Am
Come out Virginia, don't let me wait
     F                    G        C
You Catholic girls start much too late
     F                  C/G          Am
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
   F                   G
I might as well be the one

Well, they showed you a statue, told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done

Chorus:
                   C   F
Only the good die young
               G  C
That's what I said
               C   F
Only the good die young
               G       C
Only the good die young

You might-a heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty, we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
Aw, but that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia, show me a sign
Send up a signal, I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun

Chorus:
Darling, only the good die young
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah
I tell ya, only the good die young
Only the good die young

You got a nice white dress
And a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
Mmm, and a cross of gold

But Virginia they didn't give you
Quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better, but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry
with the saints
The sinners are much more fun

Chorus:
You know that only the good die young
Oh, baby
I tell ya, only the good die young
Only the good die young

              G                                F
You say your mother told you all that I could give
               C
you was a reputation
                D
Aww, she never cared for me
                         F
But did she ever say a prayer for me?
G   F    C/E
Oh woah woah

Come out, come out, come out Virginia,
don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one

Chorus:
You know that only the good die young
Tell you, baby
You know that only the good die young
Only the good die young

Only the good
Only the good die young
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Only the good die young
Only the good die young
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

Am

Guitar chord Am

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Only the Good Die Young" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel.

Billy Joel Song List