That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

by Carly Simon
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Lyrics

My fa ther sits at night with (Gmaj7)no lights on,

his cig a rette glows in the (Gmaj7)dark;

the liv ing room is still; I walk by no re (Am)mark.

I tip toe past the mas ter (Gmaj7)bed room where

my moth er reads her mag a (Gmaj7)zines;

I hear her call “sweet dreams” but I for get how to (Am)dream.

But you say it’s time we (Em7)moved in to geth er,

and raised a fam ’ly of our own, you and me.

Well, that’s the way I al ways (Em7)heard it should be.

You want to (A)mar ry me,

we’ll (D)mar ry.

My friends from col lege, they’re all (Gmaj7)mar ried now;

they have their hous es and their (Gmaj7)lawns.

They have their si lent noons, tear ful nights, an gry (Am)dawns.

Their chil dren hate them for the (Gmaj7)things they’re not;

they hate them selves for what they (Gmaj7)are;

and yet they drink, they laugh, just close the wounds, hide the (Am)scar.

But you say it’s time we (Em7)moved in to geth er,

and raised a fam ’ly of our own, you and me.

Well, that’s the way I al ways (Em7)heard it should be.

You want to (A)mar ry me,

we’ll (D)mar ry.

(D)mar

ry.

That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be by Carly Simon

4 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of B at 80 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

What key is "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" in?
"That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon is in the key of B with a tempo of 80 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" easy to play on piano?
This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be"?
This arrangement of "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" uses 12 chords: A, Abmaj7, Am, Bm, Cmaj9, D, Dm7, Dm9, +4 more.
How long does it take to learn "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" on piano?
2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by Carly Simon can I play here?
Try "HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR THE PAIN", "LET THE RIVER RUN", "SHOULDER TO SHOULDER". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

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