The King
View chords used in this chart
Intro: B7
[Verso 1]
I was top of all my classes
I was leading all the plays
C#7
I was on track for the Ivy League with a perfect GPA
I was humble and athletic, and well-meaning and well-read
C#7 F#
And when I turned 18 the whole town gathered around and said:
[Refrão]
E
"You can be the king, you can be the king of nowhere
E F#
You can be the king, you can wear the armour and the crown
E
Yeah, you can be the king
F# G#7
Don't you wanna be the king of nowhere?
C#m F#
You can be the king, and all you've got to do is stick around."
[Verso 2]
Well, I'm not one to settle and never go beyond
C#7
I swam right up the river, looking for a bigger pond
I landed in Los Angeles and tried to book a play
C#7 F#
They said they didn't care about my hair or GPA
And they said:
[Refrão]
"You are not the king!
E
You are not the king of somewhere.
E F#
You are not the king, maybe you're a jester or a clown.
E
Yeah, you are not the king
F# G#7
You are not the king of somewhere
C#m F#
If you wanna be king, find yourself a smaller slice of town."
[Ponte]
E
I gave it 11 months of waiting tables, slinging beer
C#
'Til I woke up one morning with a ringing in my ear
E
It was the horns of greatness calling me back home
C# F#
So I bought a one-way ticket to the graduation show
E
But when I hit the high school, something different in the air
C#
In the theatre they were fawning while he's playing with his hair
E
Through the window, I was watching as the folks were gathered around
C# F#
As they toasted to his majesty and watched as he was crowned while singing:
[Refrão]
E
"You can be the king, you can be the king of nowhere
E F#
You can be the king, you can wear the armour and the crown
E
Yeah, you can be the king
F# G#7
Don't you wanna be the king of nowhere?
C#m F# G#
You can be the king, just never take off that cap and gown
No, no, no, no!
C#m F# E
You can be the king, and all you've got to do is stick around
Is stick around."
How to play The King
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 B7. 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.