The Cave

by Mumford & Sons

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Lyrics

It’s emp ty in the (C#m)val ley of your (E)heart.

I The sun, it ris es (C#m)slow ly as you (E)walk a way from all the (C#m)fears and all the de (E)faults you’ve left be (E)hind.

The har vest left no (C#m)fruit for you to (E)eat, I you can ni bal, you (C#m)meat eat er, you (E)see.

But I have seen the (C#m)same, I know the de (E)shame in your de (E)feat.

So tie me to a

But I

will (A)hold on (E)hope, and I

won’t (A)let you (E)choke (A)on the (E)noose a (B)round your neck.

And (C#m)I’ll

find (A5)strength in (E)pain, and (C#m)I

will (A5)change my (E)ways.

I’ll (A5)know my (E)name as it’s (B)called a gain.

’Cause I have oth er

So come out of your (A)cave walk ing on your (E5)hands, and see the world (A)hang ing up side (E5)down.

You can un der stand de (A)pend ence when you (E5)know the (B)mak er’s (E)slant.

So (E5)make

your (A)si rens (E)call and (E5)sing

(A)all you (E)want.

I (A)will not (E)hear what you (B)have to say.

’Cause (C#m)I

need (A)free dom (E)now, and (C#m)I

need (A)to know (E)how to (A)live my (E)life as it’s (B)meant to be.

(E)(Ah,

ah,

(A)ah.

(E)Ah,

ah,

(A)ah.)

And (E)I

will (A)hold on (E)hope, and I

won’t (A)let you (E)choke (A)on the (E)noose a (B)round your neck.

And (C#m)I’ll

find (A)strength in (E)pain, and (C#m)I

will (A)change my (E)ways.

I’ll (A)know my (E)name as it’s (B)called a gain.

The Cave by Mumford & Sons — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Cave by Mumford & Sons 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 E at 144 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 "The Cave" 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 "The Cave"?
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 "The Cave" use?
Just 9 chords: A, Apow, B, C, C#m, C#m7, E, E7, +1 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Mumford & Sons songs work for kids?
Try "BELIEVE", "DUST BOWL DANCE", "GUIDING LIGHT". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.