Poppy Day
View chords used in this chart
Bm
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
[Verse 1]
Bm A D A
You know the London street life's had its fill
Em G A
Saturation overspill
Bm A D A
I start my car, head west until
Em G A
I reach a little county town
Bm A D A
And in the tree lined suburbs, out in the sticks
Em G A
I open up my bag of tricks
Bm A D A
There's a million more young lives to fix
Em G A
Another deal goes down
G D A Bm
You know me I'm a big city matador
G D A Bm
I make my killing down the M4 corridor
G D A Bm
Strike up the band, today is poppy day
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
Em G A G
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooooooooh
[Verse 2]
Bm A D A
See them hanging out by the old stone cross
Em G A
One more carved name - no great loss
Bm A D A
I make a good living, I give no toss
Em A
Then I'm heading back to town
Bm A D A
So when the radio talks about another new Czar
Em G A
I laugh out loud in my brand new car
Bm A D A
The London sky, it calls from afar
Em G A
My wheels of trade go round
G D A Bm
They stand in line as my drum beats reveille
G D A Bm
Instead of a medal, here's a spike and a tourniquet
G D A Bm
Strike up the band, today is poppy day
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
[Bridge]
G
Take this petal, take this pin
A
Put that blood red honey under your skin
G
But I want my cut, I'll shake this tin
A
Let's begin
[Verse 3]
Bm A D A
So there's my best mate in Afghanistan
Em G A
Fighting with the Paras, taking on the Taliban
Bm A D A
If anyone can sort those mothers out they can
Em G A
The sons of Salisbury Plain
Bm A D A
He says it's just like walking through Flanders fields
Em G A
Now the opium farmers have doubled their yields
Bm A D A
We bring them back on their comrade's shields
Em G A
But here's a way to dull the pain
G D A Bm
So what's your poison? You choose
G D A Bm
Is it weed or wine, is it pills or booze?
G D A Bm
Strike up the band, today is poppy day
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
[Outro]
G D A Bm
You know this war on drugs is such an abject failure
G D A Bm
You're trying to kill bugs with a gun or a rapier
G D A Bm
Strike up the band, today is poppy day
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
Em G A
Coming to a town near you
Em G A
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooooooooh
How to play Poppy Day
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 Bm. 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.