As performed
View chords used in this chart
C# - 44555x - I think it's called a C# anyways :)
A - 00222x
D - xx023x
F - 133211
Intro (with mild distortion)
E --------------------------
B --------------------------
G --2-2-2-0--2/3\2-0--------
D --------------------------
A --------------------------
E --------------------------
{ Play Intro 6x }
A
We passed upon the stairs,
D
Spoken walls and wells,
A
Although I was a friend
F
Sat on walls astrand,
C
Which came as so surprised,
A D
I spoke into his eyes -- I thought you died alone
C
A long long time ago
(First chorus)
Oh no, not me,
C# C
We never lost control,
The face, to face,
C#
With the man who sold the world.
{ Play intro 6x }
A
I laughed and shook his hand,
D
Made my way back home,
A
I searched from farther land,
F
Years and years I roamed,
C
I gazed all gazers there,
A D
We walked a million hills -- I must have died alone,
C
A long long time ago.
(Second chorus)
Who knows, not me,
C# C
I never lost control,
Your face, to face,
C#
With the man who sold the world.
{ Play intro 6x }
Repeat second chorus.
{ Play intro 8x }
Outro:
E -------------------------------------------------------
B -------------------------------------------------------
G -/9-9-9-9-9-9--\2-2-2-0--2/3\2-0--2-2-2-0--2/3\2-0-----
D -------------------------------------------------------
A -------------------------------------------------------
E -------------------------------------------------------
E -------------------------------------------------------
B -------------------------------------------------------
G -/10-10-10-10-10-10-\9-\7-7-7-7-7-7-/9 \2-2-2-0 2/3\2-0
D -------------------------------------------------------
A -------------------------------------------------------
E -------------------------------------------------------
E -------------------------------------------------------
B -------------------------------------------------------
G -/10-10-10-10-10-10-\9-\7-7-7-7-7-7-/9 \2-2-2-0 2/3\2-0
D -------------------------------------------------------
A -------------------------------------------------------
E -------------------------------------------------------
From: LionGirl@aol.com
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 15:42:55 -0500
Subject: TAB: "The Man Who Sold the World" - Nirvana
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD - Nirvana (written by David Bowie)
Tune down 1/2 step
Intro: (X4)
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------------------------
--2-2-2-0---2-3-2--0-
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with intro:
F//
Dm
----
----
-2-
----
----
----
Verse 1:
A
We passed upon the stair
Dm
Spoke of was and when
A
Although I wasn't there
F
He said I was his friend
C
Which came as a supprise
A Dm
I spoke into his eyes I thought you died alone
C
A long long time ago
Chorus 1:
(C)
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------2--3--5-----
---------2--3--5---------------
---3--5------------------------
Oh no
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------0--2--3-----
---------0--1--3---------------
---1--3------------------------
F
Not me
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------2--3--5-----
---------2--3--5---------------
---3--5------------------------
We
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------0--2--3-----
---------0--1--3---------------
---1--3------------------------
Db
never lost control
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------3-----------------
--4------4--------4--4--------
--------------------------------
F
You're face
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------0--2--3-----
---------0--1--3---------------
---1--3------------------------
C
to face
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------2--3--5-----
---------2--3--5---------------
---3--5------------------------
F Db
with the man who sold the world
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-------------------0--2--3-----
---------0--1--3---------------
---1--3------------------------
With intro:
A//Dm//
Verse 2: (same chords as 1)
I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I serched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazely stare
(At all the millions here) I must have died alone
A long long time ago
Chorus 2: (same chords as 1)
Who knows
Not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
With intro:
A//Dm//
(Repeat chorus 2)
With intro:
A//Dm//F//Dm
Dm
-----------------------
-----------------------
--2--2--2--0----2--2/
-----------------------
-----------------------
-----------------------
A
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
-/8----9--10----(10)\9----9--
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--------------------------------
--------------------------------
----------------------
----------------------
--9----9------9----9\
----------------------
----------------------
----------------------
Dm
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--2----2--0------2--3--3----0--
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--2---2---2---0------2---2---2/
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
F
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
/10----10--10------10---------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--10--10--10------10--10\9---
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Dm
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--9--(9)\7--7--------7---------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--7----7--7------7--7----------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
A
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--7/9--9--9----9--9--9--------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--9--9--9--9-----------------9\
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Dm
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--2--2--2--0------2--3--3----0-
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--2---2---2---0------2---2---2/
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
F
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
-/10----10--10----10--10--10-
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--10----10--10----10--10\9---
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Dm
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--9--(9)\7--7------7--7--7-----
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
--7----7--7------7--7/8/
--------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
A
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
/9------9--9------9--9--9------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
--9--9--9--9--------9--9\------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Dm
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
--2--2--2--0------2--3--3----0--
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------0--
--2--2--2--0------2--3--3----0--
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
F
-----------------------------------
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--2--------------------------------
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--(2)------------------------------
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How to play As performed
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C#. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.