He Was A Friend Of Mine

by Willie Nelson
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

(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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

5 people have learned this song

Watch "He Was A Friend Of Mine" by Willie Nelson in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. 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.

About “He Was A Friend Of Mine”

Can I learn "He Was A Friend Of Mine" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "He Was A Friend Of Mine" with hands-separate practice in D at 112 BPM.
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.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "He Was A Friend Of Mine" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "He Was A Friend Of Mine"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "He Was A Friend Of Mine" is in the key of D at 112 BPM.