E|-----------5--5--5-/7--7--5-----------|-----------5--5--5-/7--5--------------|--|
B|-----5--7--------------------7--5-----|-----5--7-----------------7--5-----5--|--|
G|-/7--------------------------------7--|--7-----------------------------7-----|--|
D|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--|
A|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--|


E|-/5--7--7--7--5--------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------7--5-----5--5--5--------|-----5--7--7--7--7--5--5--7--5-----|
G|-----------------------7-----------7--4--|-/7-----------------------------7--|
D|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|


The entire song plays the following progression.
D  G  D  D
D  G  A  A
D  D/F#  G  D
D  A  D  D

[Chorus]
D               G           D
I only want the things that matter
  D             G                   A
I only want the things that you can share
      D               D/F#
Don't give me diamond rings
G                   D              
All those so called finer things
D                 A                 D
They don't matter when they are not there

[Verse 1]
D                 G                  D
I don't need more clothes if I'm not freezing
    D              G           A
And I don't need a love that I can't feel
        D            D/F#
I can't use a pretty lie
G               D
Just to help me pass my time
D         A                 D
Love only matters when it's real


[Chorus]
D               G           D
I only want the things that matter
  D             G                   A
I only want the things that you can share
      D               D/F#
Don't give me diamond rings
G                   D              
All those so called finer things
D                 A                 D
They don't matter when they are not there


[Verse 2]
  D             G              D
I met a man who made a million dollars
D               G             A
Built himself a mansion up on high
   D                 D/F#
He worked hard every day
         G                   D
‘Til his strength passed him away
       D                A               D
Now he sits and watches lovers pass him by


[Chorus]
D               G           D
I only want the things that matter
  D             G                   A
I only want the things that you can share
      D               D/F#
Don't give me diamond rings
G                   D              
All those so called finer things
D                 A                 D
They don't matter when they are not there


[Verse 3]
  D              G                      D
I gave my girl a watch that shined with diamonds
D               G              A 
Prettiest watch you would ever find
    D              D/F#
She left it in the drawer
         G                   D  
When she walked right out my door
D                 A             D
Turns out all she needed was my time

[Chorus]
D               G           D
I only want the things that matter
  D             G                   A
I only want the things that you can share
      D               D/F#
Don't give me diamond rings
G                   D              
All those so called finer things
D                 A                 D
They don't matter when they are not there

[Verse 4]
D              G              D
I know you can tell I'm not a rich man
  D                   G                A
I expect you know I'm not a rich man's son
    D                  D/F#
But you should run and play
       G               D
Gather roses while you may
D              A                     D
Can't buy your time back when you’re done 


[Chorus]
D               G           D
I only want the things that matter
  D             G                   A
I only want the things that you can share
      D               D/F#
Don't give me diamond rings
G                   D              
All those so called finer things
D                 A                 D
They don't matter when they are not there

[Outro]
      D                 A                 D      
Well, they don't matter when they are not there.