The One That Got Away

by Katy Perry
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Lyrics

(E)Sum mer af ter high school, when we first met; Nev we’d (G#m)make out in your Mus tang to Ra di o head, and (C#m)on my eight eenth birth day, we got match ing tat toos.

Whoa.

Used to (E)steal your par ents’ li quor and climb to the roof, I (G#m)talk a bout our fu ture like we had a clue.

It’s (C#m)Nev er planned that one day, I’m I’d be los ing you.

But In an oth er life,

I would be your girl.

We’d keep all our prom is es; be us a gainst the world.

In an oth er life,

I would make you stay

so I don’t have to say you were the one that got a way,

the one that got a way.

(E)I was June, and you were my John ny Cash.

Nev er (G#m)one with out the oth er; we made a o pact.

and (C#m)Some times when I miss you, I put those rec ords on.

Whoa.

Used to (E)Some one said you had your and tat too re moved.

I (G#m)saw you down our town ture like sing ing the blues.

It’s (C#m)time to face the mu sic; I’m no long er your muse.

But in an oth er life,

I would be your girl.

We’d keep all our prom is es; be us a gainst the world.

In an oth er life,

I would make you stay

so I don’t have to say you were the one that got a way,

the one that got a way.

one that got a way.

The one,

the one,

the one,

the one that got a way.

All this mon ey can’t buy me a (C#m)time ma chine,

no.

Can’t re place you with a (C#m)mil lion rings, no.

I should a told you what you (C#m)meant to me,

whoa,

’cause now I pay the price.

(CN.C.)In an oth er life one that got a way.

The one,

The one,

the one,

the one,

the one.

the one.

In an oth er life,

I would make you stay

so I don’t have to say you were the one that got a way,

the one that got a way.

The One That Got Away — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

910 people have learned this song

Watch "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of E, 135 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement sits in the key of E and moves through nine chords, so your left hand will get a real workout with that octave bass pattern — keep your wrist loose and let your arm weight do the traveling rather than stretching stiffly between octaves.

The trickiest transitions are moving from G#m or G#m7 into A and then up to B7; practice just those two-chord shifts slowly, hands separate, until the shapes feel automatic before you layer hands together.

At 135 BPM the tempo pushes you forward, so start around 90–100 BPM and only speed up once your chord changes are clean — rushing will make those C#m to F#m moves stumble every time.

Watch for the C chord that sneaks in; it's outside the key and will catch your fingers off guard if you're on autopilot.

Use light sustain pedal, releasing on each chord change to keep the melancholic tone from getting muddy.

This is a fantastic song for building confident four-and-five-chord progressions in a sharp key, which will pay off in so many other pop pieces down the road.

About “The One That Got Away

Can I learn "The One That Got Away" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "The One That Got Away" with hands-separate practice in E at 135 BPM.
What key is "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry played in?
The One That Got Away is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The One That Got Away"?
The arrangement plays at 135 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The One That Got Away" 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 "The One That Got Away"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The One That Got Away"?
"The One That Got Away" was originally performed by Katy Perry. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The One That Got Away"?
This arrangement uses 9 chords: A, B, B7, C, C#m, E, F#m, G#m, +1 more.
What other songs by Katy Perry can I play here?
Try "BY THE GRACE OF GOD", "CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM", "DARK HORSE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "The One That Got Away"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "The One That Got Away" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "The One That Got Away"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "The One That Got Away" is in the key of E at 135 BPM.

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