John Chapman
View chords used in this chart
Intro
G#m
I thought
F#
it would
E
make me
F#
happy
G#m
But I
F#
feel just
E
the same
F#
as I always did
G#m
How'd I
F#
end up
E
so deep
F#
in the rat race
G#m
My life
F#
got fucked up
E
somewhere
F#
along the way
[Verso 1]
(Pick it up here)
G#m
Am I not allowed to be angry
F#m
at the world that made me
E
I don't want a wall up between countries
F#m
Just between myself an my feelings
G#m
I built that house when I was ten years old
F#m
brick by brick and bone by bone
E
No windows 'cause I wanna be alone
F#m
Disposed of the key once I bolted the door
G#m
And it's just the same
F#
as what you'd do
E
if what happened to me
F#
had happened to you
[Verso 2]
G#m F#
What would it be like if I left my hideout?
E
I hate to admit that I'm afraid to find out
F#
One time I could see but it seems like I am blind now
G#m
Would you like me better if I turned my insides out?
F#
Wanna see me naked? Just ask!
E
I got nothin left to burn, just ash
F#
Is it still worth a shot? Maybe not, maybe not
[Verso 3]
G#m F#
It's all red, it's just the same:
E
A bleeding heart will never change
except to grow calloused
F#
in an honest attempt to save itself
G#m
I guess I'm not the open book
F#
that I claimed to be
E
In fact I'm banned, because
F#
I contain dangerous ideology
G#m
that you should never read
F#
Don't hurt yourself with my misdeeds
E F#
I'll stay safe behind
G#m
lock and lost key
(^ ideally, hold onto 'key' while someone else starts the bridge)
[Ponte]
G#m G#m F#
If the system was a man then I would put him down
F# F# E
But the system's made of men so I will put them down
E E F#
If I was a man then I would put myself down
F# F# G#m
They tell me I'm a man so I'll put myself down
[Verso 4]
G#m
Should I always be zen, take it easy,
F# E
relax, chill out, stay cool, friend?
F#
Beat my head against the wall again and again
G#m
I think it's starting to make a dent
F#
but on which side I can't tell yet
E
I'm not enlightened enough
F#
to call my burden a gift
G#m
and be grateful for it
F#
but what would I do
E
without my favorite excuse?
F#
without my favorite excuse?
(Repeat intro as the outro but quicker?) (Strum without pausing)
Outro
G#m
I thought
F#
it would
E
make me
F#
happy
G#m
But I
F#
feel just
E
the same
F#
as I always did
G#m
How'd I
F#
end up
E
so deep
F#
in the rat race
G#m
My life
F#
got fucked up
E
somewhere
F#
along the way
How to play John Chapman
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#m. 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.