The End Of The Innocence

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

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Lyrics

Re mem ber when the days were long and (F)rolled be neath a deep blue sky?

They’re Did n’t have a care in the world, for with (F)Mom my and Dad dy we e (G)stand in’ by.

But (C)“hap pi ly ev er af ter” fails and we’ve been poi soned by these fair y tales.

The (C)law yers dwell on small the de tails since (Am)Dad dy had to fly.

Ah, but (Am7)I know a (Em7)place where (Dm7)we can go (Am7)that’s still un (Fmaj7)touched by (G)men.

We’ll sit and (Em)watch the clouds roll by and the (Am7)tall grass (Fmaj7)wave in the (G)wind.

You can (C)lay your head back (F)on the ground and (Am7)let your hair fall (Dm7)all a round.

(C)Of fer up your (F)best de fense but (Am7)this is the end,

(Fmaj7)this is the end

of the (C)in no cence.

Oh beau ti ful, for spac ious skies, but (F)now those skies are threat en ing.

They’re beat ing plow shares in to the swords for this (F)ti red old man that we e (G)each of king.

But (C)“hap pi Arm chair riors of ten fail and we’ve been poi soned by these fair y tales.

The (C)law yers clean up long the de tails since (Am)Dad dy had to lie.

Ah, But (Am7)I know a (Em7)place where (Dm7)we can go (Am7)and wash a (Fmaj7)way this (G)sin.

We’ll sit and (Em)watch the clouds roll by and the (Am7)tall grass (Fmaj7)wave in the (G)wind.

You can (C)lay your head back (F)on the ground and (Am7)let your hair fall (Dm7)all a round.

(C)Of fer up your (F)best de fense but (Am7)this is the end,

(Fmaj7)this is the end

of the (C)in no cence.

Just (C)lay your head back (F)on the ground and (Am7)let your hair fall (Dm7)all a round.

(C)Of fer up your (F)best de fense but (Am7)this is the end,

(Fmaj7)this is the end

of the (C)in no cence.

The End Of The Innocence — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

27 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "The End Of The Innocence" by Don Henley: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of C, 116 BPM.

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

About “The End Of The Innocence”

What key is "The End Of The Innocence" by Don Henley played in?
The End Of The Innocence 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 "The End Of The Innocence"?
The arrangement plays at 116 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The End Of The Innocence" 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 "The End Of The Innocence"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The End Of The Innocence"?
"The End Of The Innocence" was originally performed by Don Henley. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Don Henley can I play here?
Try "THE HEART OF THE MATTER", "THE END OF THE INNOCENCE", "THE BOYS OF SUMMER". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "The End Of The Innocence" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "The End Of The Innocence" by Don Henley. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "The End Of The Innocence" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "The End Of The Innocence" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.