Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - O Children: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "O Children" 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.

Em
Pass me that lovely little gun
C
My dear, my darling one
Am
The cleaners are coming, one by one
G               D              Em
You don't even wanna let them start

They are knocking now upon your door
They measure the room, they know the score
They're mopping up the butcher's floor
Of your broken little hearts

Chorus:
Em  C    Am   G       D
Oooo-oooo-oooo-oooo children

Forgive us now for what we've done
It started out as a bit of fun
Here, take these before we run away
The keys to the gulag

Chorus:
Em    Cmaj7
Oooo children
G             D                   Em
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice
Cmaj7
Children
G  D        Em
Rejoice, rejoice

Here comes Frank and poor old Jim
They're gathering round with all my friends
We're older now, the light is dim
And you are only just beginning

Chorus:
Oooo-oooo-oooo-oooo children

We have the answer to all your fears
It's short, it's simple, it's crystal clear
It's round about and it's somewhere here
Lost amongst our winnings

Chorus:
O children
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice
Children
Rejoice, rejoice

Hey, little train, we are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We're happy, Ma, we're having fun
And the train ain't even left the station

Hey, little train, wait for me!
I once was blind, but now I see
Have you left a seat for me?
Is that such a stretch of the imagination?

Hey little train, wait for me!
I was held in chains, but now I'm free
I'm hanging in there, don't you see?
In this process of elimination

Hey little train, we are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We're happy, Ma, we're having fun
It's beyond my wildest expectation

Hey little train, we are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We're happy, Ma, we're having fun
And the train ain't even left the station


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

Cm

Guitar chord Cm

Cmaj7

Guitar chord Cmaj7

Cmaj

Guitar chord Cmaj

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

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 "O Children" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "O Children" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Song List