[Verse 1 - No drums] I've paid my [Am] dues, [Em7] time after [Am] time [Em7] ....I've done my [Am] sentence [Em7] but committed no [Am] crime [Em7] And bad mi- (arp pattern by strings played for C-51,2,3,1,2,3 F-61,2,3,1,2,3) [C] stakes, [F] I've made a [C] few [F] I've had my [C] share of sand [G/B] kicked in my [Am7/E] face, but [D/F#] I've come [G] through and we mean to go [G7] on, and on, and on, and [A] on
[Chorus - Full drums - Accent G and A with snare hits] [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - with capo, 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the world [Dm][Em7/B][Dm][Em7/B][Dm][Em7/B]
[Verse 2 - No drums] I've taken my [Am] bows, [Em7] and my curtain [Am] calls [Em7] You brought me [Am] fame and fortune and everything that [Em7] goes with it I thank you [Am] all ... [Em7] But it's been no bed of (drums in) [C] roses [F] no ooo [C] pleasure cruise [F] .... I consider it a [C] challenge before the [G/B] whole human [Am7/E] race and [D/F#] I ain't gonna [G] lose - And we mean to go [G7] on, and on, and on, and [A] on!
[Chorus - Full drums - Accent G and A with snare hits] [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the .... (no world) [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the ... [D] world
[Intro - BPM 127 - Vox double - all way through] Start on upstroke so that snare hit lands on downstroke [Main intro and verse riff] -----------------------------*all downstrokes for run down E ------------------1--3---------3-1----- B 7--7--------------1--3--7--7-7-3-17----- G 7--7-repeat twice-2--4--7--7-7-4-27------ D 7--7--------------3--5--7--7-7-5-37---- A 5--5--------------3--5--5--5-5-5-35----- E ------------------1--3-------5-3-1------ udududududududududududududududududu
[Muted intro - [D][F][G] with run - no drums] [Muted intro - [D][F][G] with run - play snare on each downbeat of run] [Intro x 2 with full drums]
[Verse 1] [D5] People... [F][G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] learnin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Soldiers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] warrin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5][F#7] keep on [G7] turnin', [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G]
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 2] [D5] Powers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] lyin', [F][G] [D5][F][G] While your [D5] people [F] .. [G] . [D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] dyin [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5][F#7] keep on [G7] turnin [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G]
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 3] I'm [G7] so darn glad he let me [D7] try it again, 'Cause my [G7] last time on earth I lived a [D7] whole world of sin, I'm [G7] so glad that I know more [D7] than I knew then, Gonna [E7] keep on tryin', [G] 'Til I [G7] reach the highest [D5] ground-- [F] -- [G] ---
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 4] [D5] Teachers.. [F] . [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] teachin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Preachers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] preachin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5] just [F#7] keep on [G7] turnin', [C9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G][D5][F][G] D5 F G D5 F G Oh, no!
[Verse 5] [D5] Lovers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] lovin', [F][G][D5][F][G] Be - [D5] lievers. [F] .. [G][D5] keep [F] on [G] be - [D5] lievin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] Sleepers. [G] .. [A][E5][F#7] just stop [G7] sleepin', [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G] [D5] Oh, no! [F] -- [G] ----- [D5] ------ [D7] -----
[Verse 6] I'm [G7] so darn glad he let me [D7] try it again, 'Cause my [G7] last time on earth I lived a [D7] whole world of sin, I'm [G7] so glad that I know more [D7] than I knew then, Gonna [E7] keep on tryin', ' [G] Til I [G7] reach my highest [D5] ground [F][G][D5][F][G]
[Coda] [D5] Woo! [F][G][D5] Til I [F] reach my [G] highest [D5] ground, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] No, [F][G][D5] no one's [F] gonna [G] bring me [D5] down, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Oh, no, [F][G][D5] til I [F] reach my [G] higher [D5] ground, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Hum, [F] don't [G] you [D5] let no - [F] body [G] bring you d [D5] own- [F] -- [G] -, [D5][F][G] [D5] God, is gonna [F] show you [G] higher [D5] ground [F][G][D5][F][G][D]
