The Way We Were

by Barbra Streisand
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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

(C)Mem

(Em7)’ries

light the cor ners of my (Am)mind.

Mist y (Em)wa ter (E)col or (Am)mem

’ries

of the (G)way

we (Cmaj7)were.

Scat tered (C)pic

(Em7)tures

of the smiles we left be (Am)hind,

smiles we (Em)gave to (E)one an (Am)oth

er

for the (G)way

we (Cmaj7)were.

Scat tered (Cmaj7)were.

(F)Can it be that it was all so (Dm)sim ple then,

(Em)or has time re (Em(maj7))writ ten ev ’ry (Em7)line?

(Dm(maj7))If we had the chance to do it (Dm7)all a gain,

(G7)tell me (Cmaj7)would we?

(G7)Could we?

(C)Mem

(Em7)’ries

may be beau ti ful, and (Am)yet,

what’s too (Em)pain ful (E)to re (Am)mem

ber

we sim ply (E)choose to for (Am)get.

So it’s the (Em)laugh ter

we will

re (Em)mem ber,

when ev er we re (Em)mem ber

the (G7sus)way

we (Cmaj7)were;

the (G7sus)way we (Cmaj7)were.

The Way We Were — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

10 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand: 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, 72 BPM.

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

About “The Way We Were”

What key is "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand played in?
The Way We Were 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 Way We Were"?
The arrangement plays at 72 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Way We Were" 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 Way We Were"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Way We Were"?
"The Way We Were" was originally performed by Barbra Streisand. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Barbra Streisand can I play here?
Try "ORDINARY MIRACLES", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "My Man (Mon Homme)". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "The Way We Were" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand. 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 Way We Were" 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 Way We Were" 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.