(C)When they be gin
the Be (Cmaj7)guine
it (C)brings back the (C6)sound
of mu sic so (G7)ten der,
it brings back a night
of trop i cal (F)splen
(Fmaj7)dor,
it (G)brings back a mem
o ry ev er (C)green.
I’m with you once more
un der the (Cmaj7)stars,
and (C)down by the (Cmaj7)shore
an or che stra’s (G7)play
ing,
and e ven the palms
seem to be (F)sway
(Fmaj7)ing
(G)when they be gin
the Be (C)guine.
To (Cm)live it a gain
is past all en (Bb)deav
or,
ex (Bbm)cept when that tune
(Eb7)clutch es my (Abmaj7)heart,
and (Adim7)there we are,
(F#dim7)swear ing to love for (G)ev
er,
and prom is ing (G)nev
er,
(Fm7)nev
er to (G)part.
What (C)mo ments di vine,
what rap ture se (Cmaj7)rene,
till (C)clouds come a long to dis (C7)perse the joys we had (G7)tast ed.
And (D)now when I hear peo ple (D)curse the chance that was (D)wast ed,
I (G)know but too well
what they (C)mean.
So, don’t let them be gin
the Be (Cmaj7)guine.
Let the (C)love that was once a fire re main an (G)em ber,
let it (F)sleep like the dead de (Dm7)sire I on ly re (Em7)mem ber,
(Dm7)when they be gin
the Be (C)guine.
Oh yes, let them be gin the Be (C6)guine, make them (Cmaj7)play
till the (C)stars that were there be fore re turn a (G)bove you,
till you (F)whis per to me once (Dm)more, “Dar ling, I (Em)love you,”
and we (Dm7)sud den ly know
what (D)heav en we’re in;
(G)when they be gin
the Be (C)guine,
(Dm7)when they be gin
the Be (C)guine.
This page shows “Begin The Beguine” by Cole Porter in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.