When The Lights Came On
View chords used in this chart
Intro: Am C G Am C G C D Am C G Am C G C D Am
D C G Am C
The party wasn't over, when my friends started leaving
G D
Still a lot of things I had to say
N.C. D C G Am C
If I walked back in that room, would it be the way I left it?
G D
Lost my nerve and turned away
And the rains came
Am G D - F
And the skies turned grey
Chorus:
Am
When the lights came on
G
I could see the picture
Am Em
It burnt my eyes and it bruised my mind
F C
Gave me hope to face the future
G Am - G - Am
I was not alone when the lights came on
INTERLUDE: C G D Am C G D Am
D C G Am C
They crucified the ox and put his carcass to the fire
G D - G - D
Stood around proclaiming they were free
C G Am
Stripped away his flesh, while giving thanks for all his labours
C G D - G - D
No-one saw the joke, but him and me
Then the rains came
Am G D - F
And the skies turned grey
Chorus:
Am
When the lights came on
G
I could see the picture
Am Em
It burnt my eyes and it bruised my mind
F C
Gave me hope to face the future
G Am - G - Am
I was not alone when the lights came on
INTERLUDE: C G D Am C G D Am
(Horns) Dm G Am C G D C G Am C G D
Then the rains came
Am G D - F
And the skies turned grey
Chorus:
Am
When the lights came on
G
I could see the picture
Am Em
It burnt my eyes and it bruised my mind
F C
Gave me hope to face the future
G Am - G - Am
I was not alone when the lights came on
INTERLUDE: C G D Am C G D Am
D C G Am
A wise man built his house upon a rock beside a river
C G D - G - D
Cared not for the storms that lashed around
C G Am
The foolish man was tempted, dipped his soul into the water
C G D
His body, though at peace, has not been found
But the rains came
Am G D - F
And the skies turned grey
Chorus:
Am
When the lights came on
G
I could see the picture
Am Em
It burnt my eyes and it bruised my mind
F C
Gave me hope to face the future
G Am - G
I was not alone when the lights came on
Chorus:
Am
When the lights came on
G
I could see into the future
Am Em
It burnt my eyes and it bruised my mind
F C
I saw the truth that I had been concealing
G Am - G - Am
We were face to face when the lights came on
OUTRO: C/G Cmaj9/G G D C/G Cmaj9/G G D Am
How to play When The Lights Came On
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 Am. 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.