When I Was A Boy

by Jeff Lynne's ELO
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Lyrics

(C)When I was a boy I had a dream

(F)all a bout the things I’d like to be.

(G)Soon as I was in my bed (F)mu sic played in (G)side my head.

When I was a (G)boy I had a (C)dream.

(C)When I was a boy I learned to play,

(F)far in to the night and drift a way.

(G)Don’t wan na work on the milk or the bread, (F)just wan na play my guit (G)ar in stead.

When I was a (G)boy I had a (C)dream.

And (C)ra

(Em)di o (Am)waves

kept me (F)com

(Am)pa

ny,

(Ab)in (G)those (C)beau

(Em)ti ful (Am)days

when there (F)was

(Am)no

(Dm)mon ey.

When I was a (Bb9)boy

I had a (C)dream.

had a dream,

find ing out what life could real ly mean.

Don’t wan na job ’cause it drives me cra zy, just wan na sing, β€œDo you love me, ba by?”

(C)ra

(Em)di o (Am)waves

kept me (F)com

(Am)pa

ny,

(Ab)in (G)those (C)beau

(Em)ti ful (Am)days

when there (F)was

(Am)no

(Dm)mon ey.

When I was a (Bb9)boy

I had a (C)dream.

When I was a (Bb9)boy.

When I Was A Boy β€” Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

16 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "When I Was A Boy" by Jeff Lynne's ELO: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of C, 76 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (C) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range β€” the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About β€œWhen I Was A Boy”

Can I sing "When I Was A Boy" karaoke-style with the lyrics on screen?
Yes β€” Karaoke mode puts the lyrics of "When I Was A Boy" on screen a line at a time and lights up each word in time, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word and the chord shown just above. The piano backing plays underneath in C, and you can transpose it to fit your voice.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "When I Was A Boy" by Jeff Lynne's ELO in?
The backing track is in C at 76 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones β€” the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "When I Was A Boy" with this accompaniment?
Yes β€” that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "When I Was A Boy"?
Effectively yes β€” it's the piano-only backing for "When I Was A Boy", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "When I Was A Boy" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work β€” the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "When I Was A Boy"?
Yes β€” registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "When I Was A Boy"?
"When I Was A Boy" was originally performed by Jeff Lynne's ELO. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Jeff Lynne's ELO are available?
Other accompaniments by Jeff Lynne's ELO: "When I Was A Boy". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
Is there a karaoke version of "When I Was A Boy" with lyrics?
Yes β€” this is a free karaoke slide for "When I Was A Boy" by Jeff Lynne's ELO. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does β€” a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "When I Was A Boy" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) β€” the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "When I Was A Boy" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes β€” the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.

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