Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas
View chords used in this chart
E
A studio apartment in a dull part of Seattle,
G#
A strand of light suspended,
A Asus4
By a thumb tack in the drywall,
E
The restaurants are closed,
E
So are the record shops,
G#
The banks, and bars, and Bartell drugs,
A Asus4 E
And so's the half price book store,
Asus4 A Asus2
But the movies are always open,
Asus4 A Am
And I always have to open.
E
A repertory movie house where life is not so wonderful,
G#
For 15 soggy patrons,
A Asus4 E
Who have no better place to be,
E
Not to mention me,
E
I'm working for a holiday wage,
G#
My family is two time zones away,
A Asus4
I'm supposed to call them,
Asus4 A Asus2
My vodka and snow is melting,
Asus4 A Am
The alcohol isn't helping.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you have to work on Christmas.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you have to work on Christmas.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you gotta work on Christmas;
Asus4 A
I doubt I'll miss this.
E G#
There's an artificial tree, blinking in the lobby,
A Asus4 E
Sitting on the coffee table, yeah,
E
Strangers and spare changers,
Stand in line like poor relations,
G#
At some kind of sad reunion,
A Asus4
And I'm selling the tickets,
Asus4 A Asus2
They come in out of the weather,
Asus4 A Am
For Christmas alone together.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you have to work on Christmas.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you have to work on Christmas.
E Asus4 A
Sometimes, you gotta work on Christmas;
Asus4 A
I doubt I'll miss this.
How to play Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas
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 E. 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.