BEGIN THE BEGUINE
Cole Porter, 1935
 

A           A6  Amaj7 A6        A     A6 Amaj7 A6
When they begin          the beguine,
 
      A              A6  Amaj7  A6         E7
It brings back the sound     of music so tender,
 
     Bm           Bm7      Bm         Bm7
It brings back a night of tropical splendor,
 
     Bm7-5        E7    E7sus4   E7      A9    A
It brings back a memory            ever green.
 

A                  A6  Amaj7 A6          A    A6 Amaj7 A6
I'm with you once more       under the stars,
 
     A          Amaj7  F#m7               E7
And down by the shore,     an orchestra's playing;
 
            E7     Bm7-5  E7        D
And even the palms      seem to be swaying
 
E7       E7sus4  E7        A     A6 Amaj7 A6
When they begin     the beguine.
 

(Bridge:)
 
    Am           D7                G
To live it again    is past all endeavor
 
   Gm             C7               Fmaj7 F
Except when that tune clutches my heart,
 
    Cdim         Dm                    E     F
And there we are,  swearing to love forever,
 
                E   Dm7        E    E7
And promising never, never to part.
 

                 A   A6 Amaj7        A6       A    A6 Amaj7 A6
What moments divine,          what rapture serene,
 
      A                      A7                   E7
Til clouds came along to disperse the joy we had tasted;
 
     Dm                                               Bm7-5
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted,
 
                E7  Bm7-5  E7           A9    A
I know but too well          what they mean.
 
 
 
E7        A6            Amaj7       A6
So don't let them begin     the beguine,
 
E7         A                  A6             E7
Let  the love that was once a fire remain an ember;
 
        D                     Bm7           C#m7-5  F#m
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only re - mem - ber
 
Bm7-5        E7 Bm7-5  E7       A    A6
When they begin          the beguine.
 

E7        A                    A6                A     Amaj7 A6
Oh, yes, let them begin the beguine, make them play,
 
E7        A                      A6   Amaj7    E7
Til  the stars that were there before return above you,
 
         D                 Bm7    C#m7-5          F#7
Til you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you."
 
        Bm7                     Bm7-5
And we suddenly know . . .what heaven we're in
 
             E7        A    Am7
When they begin the beguine,
 
Bm7             Dm6  E7       A    A6 Amaj7 A6 A
When they begin        the beguine.
 
