A reason for it all lyrics and chords by Eric Bugle

4/4 (Eric Bogle) Lyrics and chords fit ‚The Eric Bogle Songbook 1’ (Slow Version). The song is sung in duet with one singer doing the parts in normal, the second the ones in fat letters. The last full verse is sung together with identic chords but different lyrics. Guitar chords worked out by Marc.

Eric Bogle Songs

Intro: Dm-G-G7-C-C

(C)Summer's smiling (Dm)on the city, (G)its another lovely (C)day in Sydney, 
Sunshine pouring (Dm)down like honey in a (G)golden (G7)water(C)fall
But in the room where (Dm)Clare is dying, (G)no sunshine sends the (C)shadows flying, 
No children gather (Dm)round her crying, (G)there's no one (G7)here at (C)all, 
Ex(Dm)cept perhaps for the (G)man who sees each (G7)little sparrow (C)fall. -C


(C)Don't talk to me about lonely souls crying, 
(G)Dark quite rooms and (C)old people dying. 
I don't (F)want to hear, I (G7)don't want to hear it at (C)all. -C
(C)Tired old people die alone every day, 
(G)Don't blame me, I didn't (C)make it that way. 
That's just (F)how it is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all. -C


(C)Winter weeping (Dm)on the city,(G) a wet and windy (C)day in Sydney, 
Rain drops rolling (Dm)fat and heavy (G)down Clare's (G7)window (C)pain.
The rain upon the (Dm)tin roof beating, (G)disturb the rats as (C)they are feeding. 
Back to the nest they (Dm)all go creeping, (G)leaving Clare a(G7)lone a(C)gain. 
It's (Dm)been a long and (G)lonely time since (G7)Clare could hear the (C)rain. -C


(C)Don't talk to me about the meaning of life; 
(G)Don't sing your songs that (C)cut like a knife. 
I don't (F)want to hear, I (G7)don't want to hear it at (C)all. -C
(C)Lonely old people ain't my concern, 
From (G)dust we come, to (C)dust we return 
And that's (F)all there is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all. -C


(C)Springtime’s come at (Dm)last to Sydney; (G)flowers are blooming (C)in the city. 
In all their multi(Dm)colored glory, (G)they rise to (G7)greet the (C)year. 
Memories in (Dm)chain recalling, (G)footsteps on the (C)front porch falling,
Voices through the (Dm)window calling, (G)is any(G7)body (C)here? 
Clare (Dm)Candle's lost and (G) lonely soul is a (G7)long, long way from (C)here. -C


(C)Don't talk to me about life's seasons, 
Don't (G)ask me for answers, don't (C)ask me for reasons. 
I don't (F)want to hear, I (G7)don't want to hear it at (C)all. -C
From the (C)moment we're born, we start to die; 
A (G)man can go crazy if he (C)keeps asking why. 
That's just (F)how it is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all. -C


CHANGE OF MELODY FOR SINGER ONE !
Can't (C)you understand what I'm trying to say, 
There (G)must a reason, there (C)must be a way 
To make some (F)sense of it, to (G7)try to find a reason for it (C)all. -C
(C)We are not born just so we can die, 
There (G)must be an answer and (C)we got to try 
To make some (F)sense of it; to (G7)try to find a reason for it (C)all. -C


DUET PART
(C)Don't talk to me about life's seasons,
Can't (C)you understand what I'm trying to say,


Don't (G)ask me for answers, don't (C)ask me for reasons. 
There (G)must a reason, there (C)must be a way


I don't (F)want to hear, I (G)don't want to (G7)hear it at (C)all. -C
To make some (F)sense of it, to (G7)try to find a reason for it (C)all. -C

From the (C)moment we're born, we start to die; 
(C)We are not born just so we can die,

A (G)man can go crazy if he (C)keeps asking why. 
There (G)must be an answer and (C)we got to try

That's just (F)how it is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all. -C
To make some (F)sense of it; to (G7)try to find a reason for it (C)all. –C


FINAL SOLO PARTS
That's just (F)how it is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all. -C

Well there (F)must be a way; there (G7)must be a reason for it (C)all -C

​Key of C Major

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~70 BPM (slow & reflective)
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz)

🎸 1. Full Chords (C Major)

Verse 1

(C)Summer's smiling (Dm)on the city,  
(G)It's another lovely (C)day in Sydney,  
Sunshine pouring (Dm)down like honey  
In a (G)golden (G7)water(C)fall.  

But in the room where (Dm)Clare is dying,  
(G)No sunshine sends the (C)shadows flying,  
No children gather (Dm)round her crying,  
(G)There's no one (G7)here at (C)all,  
Ex(Dm)cept perhaps for the (G)man  
Who sees each (G7)little sparrow (C)fall.


Verse 2

(C)Don't talk to me about lonely souls crying,  
(G)Dark quiet rooms and (C)old people dying,  
I don't (F)want to hear, I (G7)don't want to hear it at (C)all.  

(C)Tired old people die alone every day,  
(G)Don't blame me, I didn't (C)make it that way,  
That's just (F)how it is, don't (G7)look for a reason in it (C)all.

🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Slow Folk Waltz)

This song works best in 3/4 with a flowing, gentle pulse.

Pattern (per measure):

↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Counting: 1 2 3

How to feel it:

Beat 1 → Pick or lightly strum the bass note (thumb or pick)

Beats 2–3 → Brush softly across top strings (down-up)

Keep the rhythm smooth, steady, and emotional — never rushed.

Alternate light arpeggio (for verses):

↓ ↓ ↓↑ (softer; emphasize beat 1)

🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (For All Verses)

We’ll use a rolling waltz arpeggio pattern:

T – I – M – I – M – I
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)

This creates a delicate 3/4 flow, perfect for the song’s mood.

Verse 1 Fingerpicking
   C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
 Summer's smiling on the city,

   Dm                             G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 It's another lovely day in Sydney,

   C                              Dm
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
 Sunshine pouring down like honey in a golden waterfall,

   G                              G7             C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|--2-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|
 But in the room where Clare is dying, no sunshine sends the shadows flying.

   Dm                             G               G7              C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|------0---0-----|------1---1-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|--0-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Ex-cept perhaps for the man who sees each little sparrow fall.

Verse 2 Fingerpicking

Follow the same picking pattern — the chords are simpler:

   C                              G
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
 Don't talk to me about lonely souls crying,

   C                              F
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--------2-------|--------2-------|--------3-------|--------3-------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
 I don't want to hear, I don't want to hear it at all.

   C                              G7             C
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--------2-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|
A|--3-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|
 That's just how it is, don't look for a reason in it all.