Matthew

by John Denver
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How to Play This Song

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

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Lyrics

I had an un cle name of (Am)Mat thew.

He was his fa ther’s on ly (G)boy.

Born just south of Col by, (Am)Kan sas,

he was his moth er’s pride and (G)joy.

Yes, and (G)joy was (G)just a (C)thing that (G)he was (Am)raised on.

(D)Love was just a way to live or (G)die.

Gold is (G)just a (C)wind y (G)Kan sas (Am)wheat field,

(D)blue is just a Kan sas sum mer (G)sky.

And all the sto ries that he (Am)told me

back when I was just a (G)lad.

They All the mem ’ries that he (Am)gave me,

a all the good times that he (G)had.

Grow in’ up a Kan sas (Am)farm boy,

life is most ly hav in’ (G)fun,

rid ing on his dad dy’s (Am)shoul ders

be hind a mule be neath the (G)sun.

Yes, and (G)joy was (G)just a (C)thing that (G)he was (Am)raised on.

(D)Love was just a way to live or (G)die.

Gold is (G)just a (C)wind y (G)Kan sas (Am)wheat field,

(D)blue is just a Kan sas sum mer (G)sky.

And Well, I guess there were some (Am)hard times,

and I’m told some years were (G)lean.

He had a storm in for ty (Am)sev en;

a twist er came and stripped ’em (G)clean.

He the farm and lost his (Am)fam ’ly.

He the wheat, he lost his (G)home.

But he found the fam ’ly (Am)Bi ble,

a faith as sol id as a (G)stone.

Yes, and (G)sun.

Yes, and (G)sky.

Yes, and joy was (G)just a (C)thing that (G)he was (Am)raised on.

(D)Love was just a way to live or (G)die.

Gold is (G)just a (C)wind y (G)Kan sas (Am)wheat field,

(D)blue

is just a Kan sas

sum mer (G)sky.

Matthew — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

10 people have learned this song

Learn "Matthew" 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 G, 160 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Matthew”

Can I play "Matthew" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Matthew" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Matthew" by John Denver played in?
Matthew is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Matthew"?
The arrangement plays at 160 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Matthew" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Matthew"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Matthew"?
"Matthew" was originally performed by John Denver. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by John Denver can I play here?
Try "Rocky Mountain High", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", "Follow Me". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Matthew"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Matthew" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Matthew"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Matthew" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.