John Denver - Leaving on a Jet Plane
Hello! Below you'll find my "Leaving on a Jet Plane" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by John Denver is a folk classic and only uses 4 chords! It was originally played on guitar, but translates well to piano.
Enjoy!
Leaving on a Jet Plane Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Leaving on a Jet Plane:
Leaving on a Jet Plane Chords & Lyrics
Note: Lines ending in D = | D | Dsus4 D |
[Intro]
| D* | X5
| D* | X5
[Verse 1]
G C
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
G C
I'm standing here outside your door
G C D
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
G C
But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn
G C
The taxi's waiting, he's blowing his horn
G C D
Already I'm so lonesome I could die
[Chorus]
G C G C
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 D | D* | D *|
Oh babe, I hate to go
G C G C
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 D | D* | D *|
Oh babe, I hate to go
[Verse 2]
G C
There's so many times I've let you down
G C
So many times I've played around
G C D
I tell you now they don't mean a thing
G C
Every place I go I'll think of you
G C
Every song I sing I'll sing for you
G C D
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring
G C
There's so many times I've let you down
G C
So many times I've played around
G C D
I tell you now they don't mean a thing
G C
Every place I go I'll think of you
G C
Every song I sing I'll sing for you
G C D
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring
[Chorus]
G C G C
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 D | D* | D *|
Oh babe, I hate to go
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 D | D* | D *|
Oh babe, I hate to go
[Verse 3]
G C
Now the time's come to leave you
G C
One more time let me kiss you
G C D
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
G C
Dream about the days to come
G C
When I won't have to leave alone
G C D
About the times I won't have to say
G C
Now the time's come to leave you
G C
One more time let me kiss you
G C D
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
G C
Dream about the days to come
G C
When I won't have to leave alone
G C D
About the times I won't have to say
[Chorus]
G C G C
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | D* |
Oh babe, I hate to go
G C
But I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 | D* | D* | D* | D* | G |
Oh babe... I hate to go
G C G C
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me
G C D
Hold me like you'll never let me go
G C
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | D* |
Oh babe, I hate to go
G C
But I'm leaving on a jet plane
G C
Don't know when I'll be back again
G C D | Dsus4 | D* | D* | D* | D* | G |
Oh babe... I hate to go
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Leaving on a Jet Plane Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Leaving on a Jet Plane" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Leaving on a Jet Plane" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
