A Thousand Years

by Christina Perri
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Lyrics

(G)Heart beats fast, col ours and (D)prom is es… How to be (Bm)brave?

How can I (A)love when (D)I’m a (G)fraid to fall?

Watch ing you (D)stand a lone, all of my (Bm)doubt sud den ly (A)goes a (D)way some (Em)how.

One step (Bm)clo

(A)ser…

(D)I have died ev ’ry day wait ing (A)for you.

(Bm)Darl ing don’t be a fraid I have (A)loved you for a (G)thou

sand years.

I’ll love you for a (A7)thou sand more.

(G)Time stands still, beau ty in (D)all she is… I will be (Bm)brave.

I will not (A)let an (D)y thing (G)take a way what’s ing in (D)front of me.

Ev er y (Bm)breath, ev er y (A)hour has (D)come to (Em)this.

One step (Bm)clo

(A)ser…

(D)I have died ev ’ry day wait ing (A)for you.

(Bm)Darl ing don’t be a fraid I have (A)loved you for a (G)thou

sand years.

I’ll love you for a (A7)thou sand more.

(A7)thou sand more.

And (D)all a long I be lieved I would (A)find you.

(Bm)Time has brought your heart to me.

I have (A)loved you for a (G)thou

sand years.

I’ll love you for a (A7)thou sand more.

A Thousand Years — Classic Piano Sheet Music

27 people have learned this song

Read "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of D. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 120 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great way to build left-hand independence with an oompah bass pattern — your left hand plays a low root note followed by a higher chord chunk, rocking back and forth to create that gentle, swaying pulse.

Start hands-separate at around 80 BPM so you can lock in that pattern before adding the melody.

The six chords here sit nicely in D major, but watch the switch into B minor — it's the one shape that tends to trip beginners up, so loop the bar before and after it until the transition feels automatic.

Also notice that A to A7 is just a one-note change; keep your hand anchored and simply lift or move that single finger.

Once both hands feel steady on their own, bring them together slowly and let the tempo climb.

This is the piece that'll make oompah bass feel like second nature, and that skill transfers to dozens of songs from here.

About “A Thousand Years

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "A Thousand Years"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature D. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri played in?
A Thousand Years is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "A Thousand Years"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "A Thousand Years" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "A Thousand Years"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "A Thousand Years"?
"A Thousand Years" was originally performed by Christina Perri. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "A Thousand Years"?
This arrangement uses 6 chords: A, A7, Bm, D, Em, G.
What other songs by Christina Perri can I play here?
Try "A THOUSAND YEARS", "HUMAN", "Jar of Hearts". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "A Thousand Years" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature D, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 120 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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