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I Had Myself A True Love

· by Audra McDonald

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Lyrics

I (Eb)had my self a (Bb7)true love, a (Eb)true love who was (Bb7)some thin’ to (Eb)see.

I (Eb)had my self a (Bbm)true love, at (Eb)least that’s what I (G)kept on tell in’ (Db6)me.

The (Fm9)first

thing in the (Ab9)morn in’,

(Eb)I still try to (Fm7)think up a way

to be with him (Gm6)some

part of the (D)eve nin’,

and (Gm)that’s the way I (Gdim7)live through the (Fm7)day.

She (Eb)had her self a (Fm7)true love, but (Eb)now he’s gone and (Bb7)left her for (Eb)good.

The (Eb)Lord knows, I done (Bbm7)heard those back yard (Eb)whis pers go in’ (Bb7#5)’round

the neigh bor hood.

There (Abmaj7)may

be a lot of (Adim7)things I miss,

a (Eb)lot of things I (Gbdim7)don’t know, but I (F)do know (G)this:

(Fm7)now I ain’t got (Eb6)no love, and (Abmaj7)once up on a (Adim7)time, I (Bb13)had a (Eb)true love.

In the (Eb)eve

nin’ by the (Bb13)door

(Bb7#5)way, while I (G)stand there and wait for his (C7)com in’,

with the (Abmaj7)house

swept and the (Abm(maj7))clothes

(Gm7)hung and the (Cm)pot on (Cm)the stove there (Cm7)a (F9)hum min’,

where is (Fm7)he while I (F9)watch the ris in’ (Bb)moon?

(Bb7)With that (Cm)gal in that (B)damn (F9)old sa (Bb13)loon!

No!

That ain’t the (D)way that it (Bbm)used to be.

No!

And ev ’ry (D)bod y keeps tell in’ (Bbm)me.

There (Abmaj7)may

be a lot of (Adim7)things I miss,

a (Eb)lot of things I (Gbdim7)don’t know, but I (F)do know (G)this:

now I ain’t got no love,

and (Eb)once up on a time, I (Bb13)had a (Eb)true love.

I Had Myself A True Love by Audra McDonald — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “I Had Myself A True Love” by Audra McDonald 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 Ab at 92 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "I Had Myself A True Love" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "I Had Myself A True Love"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "I Had Myself A True Love" use?: Just 33 chords: Ab, Ab6, Ab9, Abm6, AbmMaj7, Abmaj7, Adim7, B7, +25 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Audra McDonald songs work for kids?: Try "WHEN DID I FALL IN LOVE", "WAS THAT YOU?", "LAY DOWN YOUR HEAD". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.