Backstreets
View chords used in this chart
G Em 3x
D C C D G C C D G D C D
G Em 4x
G Em
One soft infested summer, me and Terry became friends
G Em
Trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in
G Em
Catching rides to the outskirts, tying faith between our teeth
D C
Sleeping in that old abandoned beach house, getting wasted in the heat, yeh
G C
Hiding on the backstreets
G C
Hiding on the backstreets
G Am G Em
With a love so hard and filled with defeat
C G
Running for our lives at night on them backstreets
G Em 2x
G Em
Slow dancing in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing
G Em
Where desperate lovers park, we sat with the last of the Duke Street Kings
D C
Huddled in our cars, waiting for the bells that ring
Am C D
In the deep heart of the night they set us loose of everything
G C
To go running on the backstreets
G C
Running on the backstreets
G Am G Em
Terry, you swore we'd live forever
C G
Taking it on them backstreets together
G Em 2x
A F#m
Endless juke joints and Valentino drag
A F#m
Where dancers scraped the tears up off the street, dressed down in rags
A F#m
Running into the darkness, some hurt bad, some really dying
E D
At night sometimes it seemed you could hear the whole damn city crying
A E
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down
A D
You can blame it all on me, Terry, it don't matter to me now
D E
When the breakdown hit at midnight, there was nothing to say
A E F#m
But I hated him, and I hated you when you went away
B7 D B7 D7 D
Wa ah Wa Ah
G Em 4x
G Em
Laying here in the dark, you're like an angel on my chest
G Em
Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness
D C
Remember all the movies, Terry, we'd go see
Am C D
Trying to learn to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be
Em Bm
And after all this time, to find we're just like all the rest
C C6 D
Stranded in the park and forced to confess
G C
To hiding on the backstreets
G C
Hiding on the backstreets
G Am G Em
Where we swore forever friends
C G
On the backstreets until the end
G Em 2x
G
Hiding on the backstreets
Em
Hiding on the backstreets
G
Hiding on the backstreets
Em
Hiding on the backstreets . . .
C6
Hiding on the backstreets
Am
Hiding on the backstreets
G
Hiding on the backstreets
C
Hiding on the backstreets
G
Hiding on the backstreets
C
Hiding on the backstreets . . .
G C C D
G D G D G
* courtesy of Bruce Springsteen Complete
Alternate:
Capo III
G = E
Em = C#m
D = B
C = A
D7 = B7
Am = F#m
A = G
F#m = Em
E = C
Bm = Abm
How to play Backstreets
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 G. 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.