True Life Blues
True Life Blues
Bill Monroe
Chords you’ll need to know
A
D
E
Chord Chart
Lyrics
I hate to see the sun sink low
Just for a cause you ought to know
For it’s true love I can’t forget
All of my sorrows you’ll soon regret
You promised me love that was true
And I’m sorry to say that I believed in you
For its all turned out just like a dream
Left me so sad in the world it seems
There’s dishes to wash and a house to clean
There’s washing to do oh it seems so mean
There’s a million words I can’t explain
Think of this girl before you change your name
They’ll go away and leave you at home
They never care if you’re alone
They seem to forget they’ve got a wife
This story is sad, but it’s a true life
Demo Videos
Infamous Stringdusters w Michael Cleveland "True Life Blues"
T Shaw's Progressive Bluegrass
"True Life Blues" Jam at Dr. Ralph Stanley's Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival May 2026
Jessica Hunt
Wyatt Ellis, Del McCoury and Sam Bush “True Life Blues” McCoury Birthday Party Jam
Wyatt Ellis
Bill Monroe - Live "True Life Blues" 1989 at the Pomerado Club in San Diego, CA
The Bluegrass Bus Museum
About This Song
True Life Blues is Songs from the Father of Bluegrass. Bill Monroe defined the genre and these tunes remain at its heart.. It's typically played in A. With just 3 chords, it's one of the more accessible tunes in the bluegrass repertoire.
This song uses a single repeating chord progression throughout—learn it once and you've got the whole tune.