When I Say I Do

by Matthew West
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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

There must (Am)be a (C)God;

I be (G)lieve it’s (F)true.

’Cause I can (Am)see His (C)love

when I (F)look at (G)you.

And He must (Am)have a (C)plan

for this (G)cra zy (F)life,

be cause He (Am)brought you (C)here

and placed you (Fsus2)by my (G)side.

And I have (F)nev er been so sure

of an y thing be fore like I am

in this mo ment here with you.

And now “for (F)bet ter or for worse” are so much more than on ly words, and I pray ev ’ry day will be the proof

that I mean what I say when I say,

“I do.” Yeah, I mean what I say when I say

“I do.”

(G)Oh.

You see, these (Am)hands you (C)hold

will al ways (G)hold you (F)up

when the (Am)strength you (C)have

just ain’t (Fsus2)strong e (G)nough.

And what to (Am)mor row (C)brings,

on ly (G)time will (F)tell,

but I will (Am)stand by (C)you

in sick ness (Fsus2)and in (G)health.

’Cause (C)I have

Take my (F)hand

and take this (C)ring

and know that I will al ways love you through (G)an y thing,

yeah, (G)yeah.

And as the (Am)years march (C)on

like a (G)beat ing (F)heart,

I will (Am)live these (C)words:

“till death (Fsus2)do us (G)part.”

’Cause I have (Fsus2)nev er been so sure

of an y thing be fore like I

in this mo ment here with you.

And (C)now “for (F)bet ter or for worse” are so much more than on ly words, and I pray ev ’ry day will be the proof

that I mean what I say when I say,

“I do.” Yeah, I mean what I say when I say

“I do.”

(G)Yeah, (F)yeah.

When I Say I Do — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

15 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "When I Say I Do" by Matthew West: 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, 74 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a lovely way to develop your left-hand independence thanks to that oompah bass pattern — your left hand will alternate between a low root note and a higher chord tone, giving the ballad its gentle rocking feel, so practice that hand alone first until it feels automatic.

At 74 BPM you have plenty of breathing room, but watch the transition from F to Fsus2: it's just one finger lifting off the A to open up the second, yet students often fumble it because they reset their whole hand — keep your thumb and pinky anchored and simply release the middle note.

The Am to Am7 shift is similarly subtle, so think of these as "color changes" rather than full chord swaps.

Once your left hand is steady, add the right hand at half tempo and loop the verse until both hands sync naturally on beat one of each measure.

This is the song that will really train your ear for small voicing differences between chords, a skill that makes everything you play from here on sound more expressive and polished.

About “When I Say I Do”

What key is "When I Say I Do" by Matthew West played in?
When I Say I Do 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 "When I Say I Do"?
The arrangement plays at 74 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "When I Say I Do" 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 "When I Say I Do"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "When I Say I Do"?
"When I Say I Do" was originally performed by Matthew West. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "When I Say I Do"?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: Am, Am7, C, Dm, F, Fsus2, G.
What other songs by Matthew West can I play here?
Try "DO SOMETHING", "GRACE WINS", "MORE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "When I Say I Do" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "When I Say I Do" by Matthew West. 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 "When I Say I Do" 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 "When I Say I Do" 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.