Is "The Hungry Years" 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 Hungry Years"?

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 Hungry Years" use?

Just 16 chords: A, Am, Bm7, C, C9, Cmaj7, D, D7, +8 more. Take it one section at a time.

What other Neil Sedaka songs work for kids?

Try "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.

Super Simple Piano

The Hungry Years

· by Neil Sedaka

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Lyrics

(A)Girl, we made it to the top, we (Dm)went so high we could n’t stop, we (A)climbed the lad der (Dm)lead ing us no (A)where.

Two of us to (D)geth er,

build ing (Dm)cas tles

in the (A)air.

We (C)spun so fast we could n’t tell the (Fm)gold ring from the car ou sel; how (C)could we know the (Fm)ride would turn out (C)bad?

Ev ’ry thing we (Am)want ed

let’s was ev ’ry thing we (G7sus)had.

I miss the hun gry (Fmaj7)years,

the once up on a (Fm)time,

the love ly long a (C)go

we did n’t have a (D9)dime:

those days of (Dm7)me and you

we (Fm)lost a long the (Cmaj7)way.

How could I be so (Fmaj7)blind

not to see the (Fm)door

clos ing on the (C)world

I now hun ger (D9)for.

Look ing through my (Dm7)tears,

I (Fm)miss the hun gry (C)years.

We (A)shared our day dreams one by one we (Dm)mak ing plans was so much fun; we (A)set our goals and (Dm)reached the high est (A)star.

Things that we were (D)af ter

we much (Dm)bet ter

from a (A)far

We (C)Here we stand just me and you with (Fm)ev ry thing and noth ing, too; it (C)was n’t worth the (Fm)price we had to (C)pay.

Hon ey, take me (Am)home, ed

let’s go back to yes ter (G7sus)day.

I miss the hun gry (Fmaj7)years,

the once up on a (Fm)time,

the love ly long a (C)go

we did n’t have a (D9)dime:

those days of (Dm7)me and you

we (Fm)lost a long the (Cmaj7)way.

How could I be so (Fmaj7)blind

not to see the (Fm)door

clos ing on the (C)world

I now hun ger (D9)for.

Look ing through my (Dm7)tears,

I (Fm)miss the hun gry (C)years.

We (C)years.

I miss the hun gry (C)years.

The Hungry Years by Neil Sedaka — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Hungry Years” by Neil Sedaka 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 A at 77 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

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.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a wonderful workout for navigating extended chords at a relaxed 77 BPM — you'll move through sixteen different chord shapes including Cmaj7, C9, D9, and Bm7, which means your left hand needs to be comfortable shifting between major, minor, and seventh voicings without hesitation. The pedal bass pattern keeps your left hand anchored, so use that stability to focus on clean chord transitions up top. Watch the moves between A major and the borrowed chords like Dm, Fm, and Fmaj7 — those chromatic shifts can catch you off guard if you're not anticipating them. I'd suggest learning hands separately first, then loop any four-bar phrase where the harmony changes color unexpectedly. Slow it down to around 55 BPM until each chord lands without fumbling, then build back up. The most common stumble is rushing through the seventh chords instead of voicing every note clearly. Stay patient with those shapes — this is the piece that will make extended jazz voicings feel natural under your fingers.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Hungry Years" 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 Hungry Years"?: 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 Hungry Years" use?: Just 16 chords: A, Am, Bm7, C, C9, Cmaj7, D, D7, +8 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Neil Sedaka songs work for kids?: Try "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.