John Prine - Souvenirs Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[G] [C] [D7] [G]
[G]All the snow has turned to [C]water [C7]
[D]Christmas days have come and [G]gone
[G]Broken toys and faded [C]colors [C7]
[D]Are all that’s left to linger [G]on [G]
[section 2]
[G]I hate graveyards and old [C]pawn shops [C7]
[D]For they always bring me [G]tears
[G]I can’t forgive the way they [C]rob me [C7]
[D]of my childhood souve[G]nirs [G]
[chorus]
[D]Memories, they can’t be [G]boughten
They [D]can’t be won at carnivals for [G]free
[D]Well it took me years to [G]get those souvenirs
And I [C]don’t know how they slipped away from [D]me
[section 3]
[G]Broken hearts and dirty [C]windows [C7]
[D]make life difficult to [G]see
[G]That’s why last night and this [C]morning [C7]
[D]always look the same to [G]me [G]
[Closing]
[G]I hate reading old love [C]letters [C7]
[D]for they always bring me [G]tears
[G]I can’t forgive the way they [C]rob me [C7]
[D]of my sweetheart’s souve[G]nirs [G]
[chorus]
[D]Memories, they can’t be [G]boughten
They [D]can’t be won at carnivals for [G]free
[D]Well it took me years to [G]get those souvenirs
And I [C]don’t know how they slipped away from [D]me
How to play Souvenirs on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
John Prine - Souvenirs on ukulele requires 5 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Souvenirs uses these transitions most often: D → G (15), G → C (11), and C → C7 (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. C → D7 chord transition
To move from C to D7;
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
3. D7 → G chord transition
To move from D7 to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
- Place middle finger on A string fret 2.
4. C → C7 chord transition
To move from C to C7;
- While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 1.
5. C7 → D chord transition
To move from C7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
6. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.
7. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
Souvenirs chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Souvenirs.
- Souvenirs includes 52 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Souvenirs contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Souvenirs connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 28%