Just Once

by Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
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Lyrics

I did my (Fmaj7)best,

but I (Em7)guess my best was n’t good e nough ’cause (Dm7)here we are, back (G)where we were be fore.

Seems (Dm7)noth ing ev er chang es,

we’re (Am)back to be ing stran go gers, and it (Dm7)won d’ring if we ought to stay or (F)head on out the door.

Just (G)once

can’t we (Gm7)fig ure out what we keep do in’ (Fmaj7)wrong?

(Dm7)Why we nev er last for ver y long?

(Am)What are we do in’ wrong?

Just (G)once

can’t we (Gm7)find a way to fi n’lly make it (Fmaj7)right?

To (Dm7)make the mag ic last for more than (Em7)just one night?

If (Dm7)we could just get to it,

I (F)know we could break through it.

I gave my (Fmaj7)all,

but I (Em7)think my all may have been too much ’cause (Dm7)Lord knows we’re not (G)get ting an y where.

It (Dm7)seems we’re al ways blow in’

what (Am)ev er we’ve got stran go in’, and it (Dm7)seems at times with all we’ve got we (F)have n’t got a prayer.

Just (G)once

can’t we (Gm7)fig ure out what we keep do in’ (Fmaj7)wrong?

(Dm7)Why the good times nev er last for long?

(Am)Where are we go in’ wrong?

Just (G)once

can’t we (Gm7)find a way to fi n’lly make it (Fmaj7)right?

To (Dm7)make the mag ic last for more than (Em7)just one night?

I (Dm7)know we could break through it

if (F)know we could break through it.

(F)we could just get to it.

Just (Ab)once

I want to (Fm7)un der stand

(Bbm7)why it al ways (Db)comes back to good (Ab)bye.

(B)Why

can’t we get our (G#m7)selves in hand

(C#m7)and ad mit to (B)one an oth er (E)we’re no good with out each oth er,

take the best and make it bet ter,

(Em7)find a way to stay to geth (A)er?

Just (A)once

can’t we (Am7)find a way to fi n’lly make it (Gmaj7)right?

Oh,

(D)to (Em7)make the mag ic last for more than (F#m7)just one night?

I (Em7)know we could break through it

if (G)we could just get to it just (D)once.

Whoa,

we can (Gm)get to it

just (D)once.

Just Once — Classic Piano Sheet Music

2 people have learned this song

Read "Just Once" by Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of C. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 52 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Just Once

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Just Once"?
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 C. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Just Once" by Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram played in?
Just Once is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Just Once"?
The arrangement plays at 52 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Just Once" 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 "Just Once"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Just Once"?
"Just Once" was originally performed by Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Just Once"?
This arrangement uses 33 chords: A, Ab, Am, Am7, Am9, B, Bbm7, Bm, +25 more.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Just Once" 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 C, 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 52 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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