Listen Up
View chords used in this chart
C Am C D
Listen up whats the time said today
G C
Im gonna speak my mind
C Am C D
Take me up to the top of the world
G C
I wanna see my crime
C Am C D
Day by day theres a man in a suit
G C
Who's gonna make you pay
C Am C
For the thoughts that you think
D G C
and the words they wont let you say
Am E
One fine day
F G
gonna leave you all behind
F C
It wouldn't be so bad
G
If I had more time
F Am C
Sailing down the river alone
F Am C
I've been trying to find my way back home
F C
But I dont believe in magic
F C
Life is automatic
G F C (F C F)
But I dont mind being on my own
G F C (F C F)
No I dont mind being on my own
Now repeat for the next bit:
Verse:
Listen up whats the time said today
Im gonna speak my mind
Take me up to the top of the world
I wanna see my crime
Day by day theres a man in a suit
Who's gonna make you pay
For the thoughts that you think
and the words they wont let you say
Chorus:
One fine day gonna leave you all behind
It wouldn't be so bad
If I had more time
etc etc
Chords used:
F#m (244222)
A (x02220)
E (022100)
D (xx0232)
Faug (1x3221) [NOTE: it's easier to play this as (xx3221)]
A/E (002220)
B7 (x24242)
Bm7 (x24232)
A/C# (x4222x)
[NOTE: During the verses of this song, there are 2 guitars playing 2
completely different parts. Below are the tabbed parts for guitar 2, with
the chords played by guitar 1 listed above the tabbed part.]
Intro
-----
F#m A E D A
e-----------0--------!-----------------------------0-------------------------
B---------0---0------!--------0--------0-------0-----3----------0-----0------
G-------2-------2----!------2--------2-----------------2----------2-----2----
D-----4-----------4--!----4--------2-------------0-------0----2-----2-----2--
A---4----------------!--4--------0-------------------------0-----------------
E--------------------!-----------------------0-------------------------------
F#m A E D A
e-----------------------------------2-0---------------------------------
B--0------------0-------0-------0-------3-2------0-----0-----0----------
G----2--------2-------2---------------------2------2-----2-----2--------
D------2----4-------2-------------0------------2-----2-----2-----2------
A---------4-------0-------------------------0---------------------------
E-----------------------------0-----------------------------------------
[NOTE: The intro minus the part before the exclamation points above is
what guitars 1 & 2 play during all the verses of the song. Listed below
over the lyrics will be only the chords played by guitar 1, but the part
played by guitar 2 is also being played in the song.]
[ANOTHER NOTE: After guitar 1 has played each chord progression above
(F#m A E D A), this is how the second "A" in the chord progression is
played by guitar 1:]
A
e--------------------------------------
B--2---3-3-2-3-2---3-3-3-3-2-----------
G--2---2-2-2-2-2---2-2-2-2-2-----------
D--2---2-2-2-2-2---2-2-2-2-2-----------
A--0---0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-----------
E--------------------------------------
while guitar 2 is playing:
Asus2
e--------------------------------------
B--------0-----0-----0-----------------
G----------2-----2-----2---------------
D------2-----2-----2-----2-------------
A--0-----------------------------------
E--------------------------------------
Verse 1
-------
F#m A E D A
Listen up, what's the time, said today I'm gonna speak my mind
F#m A E D A
Take me up to the top of the world I wanna see my crime
F#m A E D A
Day by day there's a man in a suit, he's gonna make you pay
F#m A E D A
For the thoughts that you think and the words they won't let you say
Pre-chorus
----------
F#m Faug A/E B7
One fine day, gonna leave you all behind
Bm7 D E
It wouldn't be so bad if I had time
Chorus
------
D A/C# E
Sail me down the river alone
D A/C# F#m
I've been tryin' to find my way back home
D A/C#
But I don't believe in magic
D A/C#
Life is automatic
B7 D A (pick "A" like guitar 2 in verse)
But I don't don't mind being on my own
B7 D A A
No I don't mind being on my own
Tab for high pitched guitar in background of chorus:
You'l hear this little riff repeating again and again in the chorus
background with some sort of weird guitar effect used on it:
e--12-------------------12----------------------
B-----14-12-14-12----------14-12-14-12----------
G-----------------14-11----------------14-11----
[REPEAT VERSE 1]
[PRE-CHORUS]
[CHORUS]
Guitar Solo (played along with verse chords):
Tab key:
b=bend (14b15 means bend the string at the 14th fret to make the note
that would be heard if you played the string at the 15th fret without
bending]
r=release
s=slide
h=hammer on
p=pull off
F#m A E D A
e------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------12--14--12--14--14b15--14b15r14--10--
G---11--11--11--9-------------------------------------- (repeat 4 times)
D------------------------------------------------------
Solo continued (now using chords for pre-chorus):
F#m Faug
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B--12--10--12--12b13r12--10h12p10------10--12--12b13r12--10h12p10-------
G----------------------------------11------------------------------11---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A/E B7
e-------------------------------------------------------------------
B--10--12--12b13r12--10h12p10------10--12--12b13--12b13--12--10-----
G------------------------------11-----------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bm7 D
e-------------------------------------------------------------------
B--12--12b13r12--10h12p10------10--12--12b13r12--10h12p10------10---
G--------------------------11------------------------------11-------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
E
e--------------------------------------
B------10-----------------10------10---
G-s11------9b11--9----11------11-------
D--------------------------------------
[CHORUS]
Song ends with a repeated Asus2 chord.
How to play Listen Up
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.