Chords + Lyrics | Leaving, On a Jet Plane
Intro
| N.C Dsus4 D | Dsus2 D6 D7sus4 | D7 D7sus4 |
| D7sus4 D7 | D7 D7sus2 | D7 D5/A |
Verse 1
| G | C |
All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.
| G | C |
I’m standin’ here outside your door.
| G | C | D | Dsus4 D |
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.
Verse 2
But the dawn is breakin’, it’s early morn.
The taxi’s waitin’, he’s blowin’ his horn.
Already I’m so lonesome I could die.
Chorus 1
| G | C | G | C |
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you’ll wait for me.
| G | C | D Dsus4 | D5 |
Hold me like you’ll never let me go.
| G | C | G | C |
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.
| G | C | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D |
Oh babe, I hate to go.
Verse 3
There’s so many times I’ve let you down.
So many times I’ve played around.
I tell you now, they don’t mean a thing.
Verse 4
Every place I go, I’ll think of you.
Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you.
When I come back, I’ll bring your wedding ring.
Chorus 2
| G | C | G | C |
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you’ll wait for me.
| G | C | D Dsus4 | D Dsus2 |
Hold me like you’ll never let me go.
| G | C | G | C |
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.
| G | C | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D |
Oh babe, I hate to go.
Verse 5
Now the time has come to leave you.
One more time, let me kiss you.
Then close your eyes, I’ll be on my way.
Verse 6
Dream about the days to come.
When I won’t have to leave alone.
About the times, I won’t have to say.
Chorus 3
| G | C | G | C |
Kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you’ll wait for me.
| G | C | D Dsus4 | D Dsus2 |
Hold me like you’ll never let me go.
| G | C | G | C |
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.
| G | C | D Dsus4 | D Dsus2 |
Oh babe, I hate to go.
| G | C | G | C |
But, I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.
| G | C | C ||: Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D :|| x3 | G |
Oh babe, I hate to go.
Leaving, On a Jet Plane Chords: Learn the progressions
Let’s look at Leaving, On A Jet Plane’s chords using Roman numerals.
Verse
The verse are simple, following a repetitive I – IV pattern, finishing on the V chord. In the key of G, the progression looks like this:
| G (I) | C (IV) | G | C |
| G | C | D (V) | Dsus4 D |
Chorus
The chorus remains diatonic, but it introduces a more elaborate V chord, like this:
| G | C | G | C |
| G | C | D Dsus4 | D5 |
| G | C | G | C |
| G | C | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D | Dsus2 D | Dsus4 D |
As shown above with lyrics, the choruses vary slightly in their chord voicings.
I’ve created some TAB to help you play this surprisingly intricate tune. The D chords are particularly varied throughout the song.
Here’s a link to that part of the lesson: Leaving, On a Jet Plane – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you’ve worked through the TAB and practiced along with the original, all you need to bring to the gig is a chord chart. Here’s one I’ve made for you.
Leaving, On A Jet Plane Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Leaving, On A Jet Plane chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Leaving, On A Jet Plane iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Leaving, On A Jet Plane TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we investigate all of Leaving, On A Jet Plane’s chords using TAB.
As a preview, here’s the intro.
The Tune That Made John Denver
First released by Peter, Paul & Mary in September 1969, John Denver‘s version followed a month after. He later re-recorded it for his Greatest Hits album.
Most likely, Leaving, On a Jet Plane is the song that got Denver signed, as it was the standout track from his early demos.
There are several versions of this song, but the one I’ve focused on above is the Greatest Hits version, spelled Leaving, On a Jet Plane, not Leaving On A Jet Plane.
If you ever thought that a song is simply what it is and that recordings and small details don’t matter much, comparing these two versions will change your mind.
Another example of a song that was re-recorded and became a hit because of it is I’m So Excited, a Disco track, proving that this holds true across all genres.
Leaving, On a Jet Plane Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Leaving, On a Jet Plane (John Denver) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
