Johnny Cash - If Not for Love: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "If Not for Love" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. 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.

Learn If Not for Love Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Johnny Cash

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "If Not for Love" smoothly on your guitar.

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

A                    E7             A
A broken man moves slowly down the sidewalk
                E7             A
Humbled by the favors he must seek
       D                              A             F#m
From those that he encounters on his walk through misery
         A              G                  A
Who are rich enough to hurt just as they please
                   E7               A
If not for love I could be one of these

An old man on a park bench stares with envy
At a couple with their children on their knees
While across the park a young man is caught by the police
Stealing for a habit he must feed
And if not for love I could be one of these

Chorus:
   D               E7          A
I could be one of these or so many many more
D                                A
Always at the beck and call of shame
      D             E7                A              F#m
I'm thankful I was called by love to walk among the happy
        D                E7               A
But if not for you love wouldn't know my name

A man of squander talents vainly calls on
His gift of God now straining through his soul
While in the crowd before him a jealous friend awaits
The moments that he can no longer please
And if not for love I could be one of these

Chorus

Yes if not for love I could be one of these


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

D

Guitar chord D

E7

Guitar chord E7

F#m

Guitar chord F#m

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 "If Not for Love" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "If Not for Love" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List