Leningrad

by Billy Joel
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Lyrics

grad.

Vik tor was born

in the spring of for ty four,

and fol nev er saw rules

his fa ther (A)an y more.

A The on of ly sac ri fice,

a (D)child of war.

An oth er son who nev er had

a fa (G)ther af ter Len in grad.

Went off to school

and learned spring to serve the state,

and fol lowed er the rules

and drank his (A)vod ka straight.

A The on of ly way to live

was (D)drown the hate.

A Rus sian life was ver y sad,

a fa (G)ther af ter Len in

and such was life in Len in (D)grad.

But I was born in for ty nine, a (Am)hid in war the shel ters un Car der ground.

time.

Till the (G)So ’em viets the Thir turned eighth their Par ships al a round (A)Blast and those yel low ban reds siles to down.

hell.

And (Dm)Cold war kids Oc were hard to kill we un der their desks in an air raid done.

drill.

And I Have watched they my heard friends go won off the to war, (Asus)what do they keep on (A)fight ing for?

Vik tor was sent

to some Red Ar my town.

Served out his (Em)time,

be came a cir (A7)cus clown.

The great my est hap daugh pi ness

he’d ev er found

was nev mak ing Rus sian chil dren glad.

And chil dren lived in Len in (D)grad.

But chil dren lived in Lev it town and (Am)hid in war the shel ters un Car der ground.

time.

Till the (G)So ’em viets the Thir turned eighth their Par ships al a round (A)Blast and tore the Cu ban mis siles to down.

hell.

And (Dm)in that bright Oc were to ber sun, we knew our their child hood an days were done.

drill.

And I Have watched they my heard friends go won off the to war, (Asus)what do they keep on (A)fight ing for?

And so my child

and I came to this place.

To meet him (Em)eye

to eye and face (A7)to face.

He made my est hap daugh ter laugh,

then we em braced.

We nev er knew Rus what friends we had

And chil dren lived in Len in (D)grad.

un til we came to Len in (D)grad.

Leningrad β€” Simple Sheet Music

11 people have learned this song

"Leningrad" in simplified sheet music format β€” the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of D, 74 BPM.

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

About β€œLeningrad”

How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "Leningrad"?
Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music β€” same song, less visual density.
What key is "Leningrad" by Billy Joel played in?
Leningrad 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 "Leningrad"?
The arrangement plays at 74 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Leningrad" 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 "Leningrad"?
Yes β€” registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Leningrad"?
"Leningrad" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Leningrad"?
This arrangement uses 19 chords: A, A#dim, A7, Am, Asus4, B, Bm, D, +11 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords β€” helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "Leningrad". Key of D, 74 BPM.
What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below β€” like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.