When The War Is Over

by Cold Chisel
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “When The War Is Over
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of When The War Is Over

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

When the war is o ver, got to get a way,

Pack my bags to no place, in no time, no day.

You and I, we used each oth er’s shoul der,

still so young, but some how so much old er.

How can (E)I go home and not get (E)blown a way?

You and I had our (C#m7)sights set on some thing,

hope this does n’t mean our (A6)days are num bered.

I got plans for more than a want ed man.

All a round this cha os and mad ness,

can’t help feel ing noth ing (A)more than sad ness,

on ly choice to face it the best I can.

When the war is o ver, got to start a gain,

try to hold a trace of what it was back (D)then.

You and I, we sent each oth er sto ries,

just a page, I’m lost in all its glor ies.

How can (E)I go home and not get (E)blown a (A)way?

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

Ain’t no bo dy gon na (C#m7)steal this heart a way.

When The War Is Over — Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

1 person has learned this song

Classic piano notation for "When The War Is Over" by Cold Chisel as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in A — sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 94 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

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

Try other practice modes:

About “When The War Is Over

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "When The War Is Over" suitable for a pianist?
Yes — both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key A, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "When The War Is Over" by Cold Chisel in?
The backing track is in A at 94 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "When The War Is Over" with this accompaniment?
Yes — 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 The War Is Over"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "When The War Is Over", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "When The War Is Over" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "When The War Is Over"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "When The War Is Over"?
"When The War Is Over" was originally performed by Cold Chisel. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Cold Chisel are available?
Other accompaniments by Cold Chisel: "Choirgirl", "Khe Sanh". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode — both hands, classic piano notation, key of A, real chord symbols — but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "When The War Is Over" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes — treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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