Band Of Gold | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: G riff :|| x4
Verse 1
| G | G | D/F# |
Now that you’re gone, all that’s left is a band of gold.
| D | C | C |
All that’s left of the dreams I hold, is a band of gold.
| G/B | C |
And the memories of what love could be.
| G/B | D7 |
If you were still here with me.
Verse 2
You took me from the shelter of my mother, I had never known.
Or loved any other, we kissed after taking vows.
But that night on our honeymoon.
We stayed in separate rooms.
Verse 3
I wait in the darkness of my lonely room.
Filled with sadness, filled with gloom, hoping soon.
That you’ll walk back through that door.
And love me like you tried before.
Verse 4
Since you’ve been gone, all that’s left is a band of gold.
All that’s left of the dreams I hold, is a band of gold.
And the dream of what love could be.
If you were still here with me.
Solo
| G | G | D/F# |
| D | C | C |
| G/B | C |
| G/B | D7 |
Breakdown
||: G riff :|| x4
Oh,
Verse 5
Don’t you know that I wait, in the darkness of my lonely room.
Filled with sadness, filled with gloom, hoping soon.
That you’ll walk back through that door.
And love me like you tried before.
Verse 6
Since you’ve been gone, all that’s left is a band of gold
All that’s left of the dreams I hold, is a band of gold
And the dream of what love could be.
If you were still here with me.
Outro
| G | G | D |
Since you’ve been gone, all that’s left is a band of gold.
Band of Gold Chords: How Small Adjustments Create a Timeless Hit
The chords for Band of Gold primarily follow the classic I – V – IV progression. However, both the I and V chords frequently use their 3rd in the bass, adding a subtle but effective twist.
Instead of simply playing G – D – C, the progression becomes:
G – D/F# – D – C, followed by G/B – C – G/B – D7.
This may seem like a small adjustment, but in hit songwriting, familiarity with a slight variation often makes all the difference.
Structurally, Band of Gold consists of a simple riff using the minor pentatonic scale (with the m3rd swapped for a b9) and a straightforward verse. The chord progression is easy to memorise:
| G (I) | G | D/F# (V/3) | D (V) | C (IV) | C |
| G/B (I/3) | C | G/B | D7 |
A perfect example of how a small twist on a familiar progression can make a song timeless!
Here’s a chord chart you can bring to the gig—or even send to your bandmates if you haven’t had a chance to rehearse Band of Gold together.
Band of Gold Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
If you want to download my chord chart, you can do so as a PDF or an iRealpro file.
Using the iReal Pro app, you can change the key. While this hasn’t happened to me with Band of Gold, it’s certainly possible it may come up for you.
The chords are simple enough that you probably could manage without changing the key on the chord chart, but personally, I’ve found it helpful to have the chart in the key I’m playing.
Band of Gold – Invictus’ Biggest Hit
Band of Gold was another smash hit from Motown’s legendary songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland – though this time, they released it under a different name on their own label, Invictus.
Despite their legal battle with Berry Gordy, which had been ongoing since 1967, they managed to lure over members of Motown’s iconic house band, The Funk Brothers, to play on the track.
Released in 1970, Band of Gold became an instant success, reaching #1 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S.
Freda Payne, initially hesitant to record the song due to its lyrical content, ultimately delivered the biggest hit of her career. Although she went on to release more albums, she never replicated its success. Instead, her career focused on musicals, acting, and television hosting.
Remarkably, Payne continued recording into her later years, releasing new music as recently as 2021—at the age of 78!
On Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, Band of Gold holds the #391 spot, cementing its place in music history.
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