When We Were Kings
View chords used in this chart
A, E, D, A - Repeat
verse 1
A E
Tommy got off at the Texaco
D A
Came bustin' in to Norma's Cafe
E
Said come on man we gotta go
D A
You know how those part girls hate to wait
E
Filled up his daddy's trunk with ice and beer
D A
Yeah he was always stealin' the old man's car
E
Radio never came in too clear
D A
So I'd bang out one on my piece of junk guitar
[Refrão]
F#m G
Yeah we ruled from the blacktop
D A
To the levee where the party never stopped
E
Yeah there was power in the night
F#m G
The spirit was alive when we would sing
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
verse 2
A E
Sittin' around the fire one night Tommy called my name
D A
I turned around he said hey what do ya think
E
Had his arm around the prettiest girl I'd ever seen
D A
He kissed her hard and took another drink
E
I say you must be an angel puttin' up with this guy
D A
She laughed and said play me some Rolling Stones
E
I couldn't let that chance go by
D A
Yeah I sang her "You Can't Always Get What you Want"
[Refrão]
F#m G
Yeah we ruled from the blacktop
D A
To the levee where the party never stopped
E
Yeah there was power in the night
F#m G
The spirit was alive when we would sing
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
verse 3
A E
That was the fall of '69
D A
I guess Uncle Sam was hedging his bet
E
Tommy's number came up he said "Hey, I'll be fine"
D A
"I'll teach 'em a lesson they'll never forget"
E
Angel and I went to wave goodbye
D A
I guess we'd always thought we'd see him again
E
You know I took her out after that a couple of times
D A
We always just wound up talkn' 'bout him
[Refrão]
F#m G
Yeah we ruled from the blacktop
D A
To the levee where the party never stopped
E
Yeah there was power in the night
F#m G
The spirit was alive when we would sing
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
A E D G
Sha na na na na na na na
A
When We were kings
How to play When We Were Kings
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 A. 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.