Category: The Stranglers

---------

intro: Am D (x16)

Someday I’m gonna smack your face
Someday I’m gonna smack your face
Somebody’s gonna call your bluff
Somebody’s gonna treat your rough
Sometimes there’s only one way out, I gotta fight!

Am D (x8)

Sometimes I get to feel so mean
Sometimes I get to feel so mean
Sometimes you look like you’re too clean
Sometimes I see the in-between
Sometimes only one way, I gotta fight!

You’re way past your station
Beat you honey, ’til you drop

guitar solo (repeat chords Am D):

E---------------------------------------------------|
B------0-----0h1p0----------------------------------|
G----2--------------2--0--0--0h2--------------------|
D--------------------------------0h2----------------|
A--0------------------------------------3--2--0-----|
E-------------------------------------------------0-|
E---------------------------------------------------|
B------0-----0h1p0----------------------------------|
G----2--------------2--0-1-2------------------------|
D---------------------------------------------------|
A--0------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------5-3------5--3---2-----|
E---------------------------------------------------|
B------0-----0h1p0----------------------------------|
G----2--------------2--0--0--0h2--------------------|
D--------------------------------0h2----------------|
A--0------------------------------------3--2--0-----|
E-------------------------------------------------0-|
E----------------------------------------------------------|
B------0-----0h1-3-1--0------------------------------------|
G----2-------------------2s4--2--0-------------------------|
D----------------------------------2s4--2-0----------------|
A--0----------------------------------------3-2-0----------|
E-------------------------------------------------3-2---0--|
E--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|
B----7-----0-----8-----0-----7-----0-----8-----0---|
G------7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-|
D--------------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------|
E--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|
B----7-----0-----8-----0-----7-----0-----8-----0---|
G------7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-|
D--------------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------|
E--0-----0-----0-----0-----0---------------------------|
B----7-----0-----8-----0-----7-7-7-7-5-----------------|
G------7-----7-----7-----7-------------7-5-4h5p4-------|
D-------------------------------------------------7-5--|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------------------------------------------------|
G---------------------------------------------------------|
D--4----------------------------0-2-4---------------0-2-4-|
A----7-5-3----------------0-2-3---------------0-2-3-------|
E----------7-5-3-2-0h2h3---------------0h2h3--------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4--|
A--------0-2-3-------------0-2-3-------------0-2-3-------------0-2-3--------|
E--0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3--------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G--------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4--|
D--------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4--------|
A--0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3--------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------0-1-3-------------0-1-3-------------0-1-3-------------0-1-3--|
G--------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4--------|
D--0h2h4-------------0h2h4-------------0h2h4-------------0h2h4--------------|
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4-------------0-2-4--|
A--------0-2-3-------------0-2-3-------------0-2-3-------------0-2-3--------|
E--0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3-------------0h2h3--------------|
E-----------------------------------3-5-7---5h7p5-3---2-3-0-----0-----0-----0---|
B-----------------------------------------------------------3s5---3s5---3s5---0-|
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------0-2-4------------------------------------------------------------|
A--------0-2-3-------------0-2-3------------------------------------------------|
E--0h2h3-------------0h2h3------------------------------------------------------|
E--3-5-7---5h7p5-3---2--3---|
B---------------------------|
G---------------------------|
D---------------------------|
A---------------------------|
E---------------------------|

You’re way past your station
It’s useless asking you to stop
I got morbid fascination
Beat you honey ’til you drop

Am D (x8)

Sometimes you’re gonna get some stick
Sometimes you’re gonna get some stick
Somebody’s standing in our way
Somebody’s gonna have to pay
Sometimes there’s only one way, I gotta fight

Am D (x21) E5 D5 C5 B5
end on Am.

----------------------------------------

courtesy of Richard Stanforth
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

EVERYBODY LOVES YOU WHEN YOU’RE DEAD

————————————

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 25th May 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

Guitar is mixed really low in this one, but I’ve tried my best!

intro: hi-hat, keyboard riff x2
bass enters… play this riff twice:

E——–7—|
B——8—–|
G—-9——-|
D–7———|
A————|
E————|

main bass/drum rhythm kicks in, riff is as follows (play twice) – bass root notes
alternate between A and G for this section:

E–9——9——8—–8—-7—–7—–6—–6-|
B—-10—–10—–7———-8—–8—–5—–|
G——-9————8———-9———–6—|
D———————————————–|
A———————————————–|
E———————————————–|

then: A E D C

They crucify you when you get it wrong
When things are fine they put you ahead
They laugh at you with your trousers down
They pick the stones and aim them at your head
When you’re alive they won’t care what you’ve said
What you deserve and all the blood you’ve bled

(play intro riff x2)

Doesn’t matter what you try to hide
The sun comes out and then the truth is read
Your fans’ll love you when you’re alive
But the wreaths are laid by the rest instead
When you’re alive they won’t care what you’ve said
What you deserve and all the blood you’ve bled

(bass root notes appear above):

Cos everybody loves you when you’re dead
[(A)] [(G)] [(E)]

E———–7——————-2———-|
B———8——————-3————|
G——-9——————-4————–|
D—–7——————-2—————-|A——————————————|
E——————————————|

Kneel and pray by the side of your bed
[(D)] [(C)] [(Bb)]

E——-0———————————–|
B—–1———————–1————-|
G—2———————–1—————|
D-0———————–3—————–|A———————–1——————-|
E——————————————-|

And then everybody loves you when you’re dead
[(A)] [(G)] [(E)]

E—————7——————-2——-|
B————-8——————-3———|
G———–9——————-4———–|
D———7——————-2————-|A——————————————-|
E——————————————-|

Kneel and pray just like your mama said
[(D)] [(C)] [(Bb)] [(D)] [(C)] [(B)]

E——-0—————————————-0——————————–|
B—–1——————————-1——–1————0————–0——|
G—2——————————-1——–2————2—-2———2—-2—|
D-0——————————-3——–0————1——–1—–1——–1-|
A——————————-1———————2————–2————|
E———————————————————————————|

intro riff (guitar is mixed really low here, so it’s going to take some time to
figure out).

A5 G5 A5 G5 (x2)

When you’re alive they won’t care what you’ve said
What you deserve and all the blood you bled
You’ll turn in your grave at what’s gonna be said
You’ll finally be appreciated
Cos everybody loves you when you’re dead
Everybody loves you when you’re dead

ending (unsure of this bit):

[(A)] [(G)] [(E)] [(D)] [(C)] [(Bb)]

E——————————————–|
B—–8——6——3————————|
G—9——7——4——–5——3——1—|
D-7——5——2——–7——5——3—–|
A———————-5——3——1——-|
E——————————————–|

-----------------------

intro riff:

E------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------|
D---------------------------------2--| A-----------------2-2-2-2-2-2-2h4----|
E-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--------------------|
E---------------------------------|
B---------------------------------|
G---------------------------------|
D---------------------------------|
A-----------------2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-|
E-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-----------------|

(drums and bass enter here)

F# B (x2)

Don’t you like the way I move when you see me?
Don’t you like the things that I say?
Don’t you like the way I seem to enjoy it?
When you shout things but I don’t care

Something’s happening and it’s happening right now
You’re too blind to see it
Something’s happening and it’s happening right now
Ain’t got time to wait

I said something better change (x4)

Don’t you like the way I dance, does it bug you?
Don’t you like the cut of my clothes?
Don’t you like the way I seem to enjoy it?
Stick my fingers right up your nose!

Something’s happening and it’s happening right now
You’re too blind to see it
Something’s happening and it’s happening right now
Ain’t got time to wait

I said something better change (x4)

guitar solo:

E---------------------------------|
B--5--4h5p4--2--------------------|
G--------------3------------------|
D-----------------4--2--1--2------|
A-----------------------------1-2-|
E---------------------------------|

E-------------------------------|
B-----------------------------2-|
G-------------------1---4-3-4---|
D---------1-2s4-2-4---4---------|
A-----1-2-----------------------|
E-0-2---------------------------|

E-----0---0-2-0-2-4-2-4-7-6-7-7^-|
B-0-2---4------------------------|
G--------------------------------|
D--------------------------------|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|

E-7-6-7^--7-6-7^--7-6-7^--7-6-6--|
B--------------------------------|
G--------------------------------|
D--------------------------------|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|

E-------------------------------------------|
B--10^10--10^10--10^10--10^10--10^10-10s----|
G--10^10--10^10--10^10--10^10--10^10-10s----|
D-------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------|

E--------------------------------|
B--------------------------------|
G--5^5--5^5--5^5--5^5--5^5-5-----|
D--5^5--5^5--5^5--5^5--5^5-5-----|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|

E--------------------------------|
B--------------------------------|
G--7^7--7^7--7^7--7^7--7^7-7-----|
D--7^7--7^7--7^7--7^7--7^7-7-----|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|

(n.b. the last bar of the solo I can’t decipher yet,
it sounds like a lot of sloppy random playing
around the 12th frets of the E and B strings)

I said something better change (x4)

F# B E (x5)

I said something better change (x8)

F# E G F# (x4) – pause

end on F# with the word ‘change!’

----------------------------------------

courtesy of Richard Stanforth

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

THREATENED

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Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 1st April 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

intro: drums and palm muted D(b5) chord (definition: 4567xx),
keyboard plays notes of D, C# and B… guitar enters picked 2nd time
around.

picking pattern is like follows:

E-------------------------------|
B-------------------------------|
G--------7--------------7-------|
D------6----6---------6----6----|
A----5--------5-----5--------5--|
E--x--------------4-------------|

bass enters and keyboard plays a descending riff for four bars.

D5 F#5 G5 F5 (x4, keyboard enters on the third time)

D5 F#5 G5 F5/G# (x2) A5 G5 A5 G5

I don’t think things can be pretty or ugly
All that you can say
Is if your existence is not threatened in any way

E-------------------------------|
B-----0-------0-------0-------0-|
G---3-------1-------3-------1---| D-2------2--------2------2------|
A-------------------------------|
E-------------------------------|

D5 F#5 G5 F5 (x2)

D5 F#5 G5 F5/G# (x2) A5 G5 A5 G5

You are quite safe with me
I’ve got my own philosophy
All that you can say
Is if your existence is not threatened in any way
Threatened in any way, threatened in any way
Threatened in any way, threatened in any way

D5 F#5 G5 F5 (x2)

Man killed by indu[F5/G#]stry, man killed by luxu[F5/G#]ry
D5 F#5 G5 F5/G# D5 F#5 G5 (N.C.)
Man killed by falling tree, man killed by sanity

Bring me a piece of my mummy
She was quite close to me

D5 F#5 G5 F5/G# (x2)

A5 G5 until end.

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

BURNING UP TIME

---------------

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 2nd April 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

intro: bass notes… A E A E
guitar and keyboards enter: A E A E

The Brighton Train it goes so soon
My Brighton Belle is in her room
It’s burning up time, it’s burning up time
The weekend’s here, the Finchley boys
Are gonna make a lot of noise
It’s burning up time, it’s burning up time

I wanna burn up while I’m having good times
Don’t wanna burn up with other peoples bad times

riff:

E--------------------------------|
B-----5-----7------8-----10--10--|
G--------------------------------|
D--------------------------------| A--7-----9-----10-----12---------|
E--------------------------------|

Like a meteor… like to meet ya!

You either love or you despise
There’s just no time for compromise
It’s burning up time, it’s burning up time
The days have gotta move real fast
We know that nothing’s gonna last
It’s burning up time, it’s burning up time

I wanna burn up while I’m having good times
Don’t wanna burn up with other peoples bad times

(play riff twice)

Like a meteor… like to meet ya!

chords over keyboard solo: A E A E (x4) A E
“like a meteor, like to meet ya”…etc

(play riff 1 four times)

riff 2:

E--------------------------------|
B-----8-----7------6-----5--5----|
G--------------------------------|
D--------------------------------| A--10-----9-----8-----7----------|
E--------------------------------|

chords over the riff are:
1st time: B5, 2nd time: D5, 3rd time: E5
4th time: F5, 5th time: F#5, 6th time: G5 A5

ending:
the bass notes are: G F# F E A G# G F# (repeat over and over)
Hugh plays variations of riff 2.

“hello little girl, are you on your own?
does you mummy know where you are?
would you like a sweetie?”

-------------

#Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
#Date of Transcription: 1st April 2002
#
#This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
#http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords
#
#intro (keyboard): C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (x4, bass enters
# third time around)
#
#guitar riff:
#
#

E----------|

#

B----------|

#

G----------|

#

D------2---|

#

A----2---4-|

#

E--4-------|

#
#C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (riff)
#Somewhere outside Toyko invented time
#C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (riff)
#Someone in a factory invented time
If people wanted proof to carry on
F# E D# D C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (riff)
They’d like to buy one
C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (riff)
Fifty million watches with a strap to sell
C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (riff)
Fifty million watches with a strap to sell
If people wanted proof to carry on
They’d like to buy one
(keyboard solo):
C#m A B G# F# F#/C# F# F#/C# (x2)
[F#/C#] [F#/C#]
If they should ever sell out
That would be the end of
Be the end of, be the end of time

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

WHERE I LIVE

————

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 12th August 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

(chords only)

intro: C G C G-F C G Am

Hey man, I like your beard and I like the way you serve that beer
I like the way your daughter smiles at me
Hey mister, could I have just one more beer?

I got two big [G/B]balls, a cap and a bat
And I play with them all of the [Fmaj7/G]time
I got a million [G/B]things I’d rather do, if only you say you’ll stay mine
If only you say you’ll stay mine, if only you say you’ll stay mine
Yeah, this is the place where I live and the place where I love

Hey ma’amselle, fill up baby, I like the way you give me gas
Tell me, who is the man with the double barrelled gun? (my daddy)
I think I better move on fast

I got a big black [G/B]car, a dog and a cat
And I play with them all of the [Fmaj7/G]time
I got a million [G/B]things I’d rather do, if only you stay you’ll stay mine
If only you say you’ll stay mine, if only you stay you’ll stay mine
Yeah, this is place where I live and the place where I love

The way the old church spire stabs the clouds
And when the old folks say, I’ll have another drink to see
Me through the day, thank you JJ
Yeah, this is the place where I live and the place where I love

Hey, Mrs B, take a look at me, d’you really think I’m quite that bad?
Sometimes I say and do stupid things that only serve to make you sad
I got a motor[G/B]cycle, an empty seat
And twenty years ahead of my [Fmaj7/G]time
I got a million [G/B]things I’d rather do, if only you say you’ll stay mine
If only you say you’ll stay mine, if only you say you’ll stay mine
Yeah, this is the place where I live and the place where I love

C G C G-F C G Am until fade.

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

PARADISE

——–

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 26th August 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

intro: electric drums, guitar picks D and Am7 chords, keyboard follows
playing same chords, then bass enters, before main keyboard riff.

I went in search of paradise, they said it would be good for my head
I went in search of paradise, but she took me by the head instead

Paris, London
Glamour and despair
Ruins, we were ruined over there
Ruins, we were ruined over there

[A/C#] [Bm/D]
And when you think you’re in paradise, but then you find your arms are tied
Caprive in the name of paradise, the chains are all her lies

Paris, London
Glamour and despair
Ruins, we were ruined over there
Ruins, we were ruined over there

[A/C#] [Bm/D]

The picture on the screen is moving still, it’s moving all the time
If only you freeze frame a moment there, you could have paradise all the time

Paris, London
Glamour and despair
Ruins, we were ruined over there
Ruins, we were ruined over there

I don’t think [A/C#]anyone ever found paradise
[Bm/D]Cause paradise is based on lies

(repeat until fade)

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

DUCHESS

——-

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 1st April 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

intro: A E/G# D/F# A/E

Duch of the terrace never grew up, I hope she never will
Broken down TV sits in the corner, pictures standing still
Standing still
Duch of the terrace knows all her heritage, says she’s Henrys kid
Knows all the history in the family, needs a man God forbid
God forbid

And it sounds like an empty house standing still
And it’s quieter than a mouse, standing still

Duch of the terrace never grew up, I hope she never will
Says she’s an heiress, sits in her terrace, says she’s got time to kill
Time to kill

And the Rodney’s are queuing up, god forbid
And they all want to win the cup, god forbid

Duchess, duchess

And the Rodney’s are queuing up, god forbid

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

IT’S A SMALL WORLD

——————

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 26th August 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

riff:

E|——————|
B|——————|
G|————0—–|
D|——0——-0—|
A|—-4—0——-0-|
E|–5——-3——-|

intro: repeat riff 12 times.

Many [C/E]roads to travel down and there are many s[C/E]urpri[D/G]ses to find
But as l[C/E]uck will have it you can stumble in the valley of the blind[Bm/G]
Friends will a[C/E]lways tell you fate will rear its ugly h[C/E]ead to fr[D/G]ighten you
But the h[C/E]ands of time hold something and he’s offering it all to you[Bm/G]

Watch out for a surprise, it’s nature’s biggest prize
D c D E
And when it comforts you, discover it’s a small world too

(riff x4)

[C/E] [C/E] [D/G]

Read your b[C/E]ooks and study hard to find the kick that [C/E]makes you c[D/G]arry on
And if l[C/E]ucks a kind friend she will show you how and why it all began[Bm/G]

Just look in the backyard, you won’t have to look hard
The crossword’s final clue, discover it’s a small world too

It’s a small world too…

(riff x4)

[C/E] [C/E] [D/G]

When your fr[C/E]iends are gathered round and you draw straws to f[C/E]ind out w[D/G]ho goes first
Climb the w[C/E]all out of the pleasure garden, see a flower die of thirst[Bm/G]

A circle’s always round, the truth lies underground
You may just join the queue, discover it’s a small world too

It’s a small world too…

[C/E] [C/E] [D/G]
[C/E] [Bm/G]
repeat above chord sequence until fade, ad libbing “It’s a small world too”.