(A7)He
was a friend of mine.
(A7)He
was a friend of mine.
Ev ’ry time I think of (D)him,
I (F#7)just can’t keep from cry in’.
sow.
’Cause (D)he
was a (A7)friend of (D)mine.
(A7)He
died a on the road.
(A7)He
died a on the road.
He ’ry just kept on mov (D)in’
I (F#7)nev er reaped what he could sow.
And (D)he
was a (A7)friend of (D)mine.
(A7)I
stole a way and cried.
(A7)I
stole a way and cried.
’Cause I nev er had too much (D)mon ey,
I (F#7)nev er been quite sat is fied.
And (D)he
was a (A7)friend of (D)mine.
(A7)He
nev er done no wrong.
(A7)He
nev er done no wrong.
’Cause A thou sand miles too from (D)home, ey,
and (F#7)he nev er harmed sat no one.
And (D)he
was a (A7)friend of (D)mine.
(A7)He
was a friend of mine.
(A7)He
was a friend of mine.
Ev ’ry time I hear his (D)name, Lord,
I (F#7)just can’t keep from cry in’,
’cause (D)he
was a (A7)friend of (D)mine.
He Was A Friend Of Mine — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners
Learn "He Was A Friend Of Mine" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of D, 112 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “He Was A Friend Of Mine”
- What key is "He Was A Friend Of Mine" by Willie Nelson played in?
- He Was A Friend Of Mine 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 "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
- The arrangement plays at 112 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "He Was A Friend Of Mine" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
- "He Was A Friend Of Mine" was originally performed by Willie Nelson. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
- This arrangement uses 8 chords: A, A7, Bm, D, Em, F#7, F#m, G.
- What other songs by Willie Nelson can I play here?
- Try "ON THE ROAD AGAIN", "HARBOR LIGHTS", "MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
More piano songs by Willie Nelson
See all Willie Nelson songs →More songs you might like
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS
Willie Nelson
GONE COUNTRY
Alan Jackson
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Willie Nelson
TOES
Zac Brown Band
RAINBOW
Kacey Musgraves
HARBOR LIGHTS
Willie Nelson
GONE
Montgomery Gentry
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
P!nk
SPRINGSTEEN
Eric Church
IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE
Alan Jackson
ANGEL FLYING TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND
Willie Nelson
WHAT WAS I THINKIN'
Dierks Bentley