"The Show Must Go On"
By: Queen
Album: Innuendo
Notes:
While this tune is definitely a piece for electric guitars, I usually prefer to play it
an acoustic guitar. There's plenty of opportunity to add frills and I've tried to give
names to the chords I use (which can be found at the bottom of the page. Some of the
are trickier to hit than I usually try for but they do give a fuller sound. Feel free
skip or add bits if you think it'll help.
Intro (7 bars):
|
Bm
Bsus2
|
Bsus4
Bm
|
G
G11# |
Em/G
|
Em7
Em6
|
F#sus4
F#
|
Em
|
Verse 1 (14 bars):
(A#dim/E)
Bm
Bsus2
Bsus4
Bm
Empty spaces, what are we living for?
G
G11#
Em/G
G
Abandoned places. I guess we know the score.
Em7
Em6
F#sus4
F#
Em
A#dim
/
E
On and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for?
Bm
Bsus2
Bsus4
Bm
Another hero. Another mindless crime.
G
G11#
Em/G
G
Behind the curtain. In the pantomime.
Em7
Em6
F#sus4
F#
G
Hold the line. Does anybody want to take it anymore?
Chorus (8 bars):
(
G
)
Bm
Bsus2
Bsus4
Bm
The show must go on...
G
G11#
Em/G
G
The show must go on...
Em7
Em6
Inside, my heart is breaking.
F#sus4
F#
Em
Bm
(N.
C
.)
My makeup may be flaking but my smile still stays on.
Verse 2 (16 bars):
C#m
C#sus2
C#sus4
C#m
Whatever happens, I leave it all to chance.
A
A11#
F#m
/
A
A
Another heartache. Another failed romance.
F#m7
F#m6
G#sus4
G#
Cdim
/
F#
On and on. Does anybody know what we are living for?
C#m
C#sus2
C#sus4
C#m
I guess I'm learning. I must be warmer now.
A
A11#
F#m
/
A
A
I'll soon be turning round the corner now.
F#m7
F#m6
Outside the dawn is breaking,
G#sus4
G#
F#m
Em
but inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.
Chorus (8 bars)
Guitar break (6 bars):
(
Bm
) (
Bsus2
) |
Bsus4
Bm
|
G
G11#
G
|
Em7
Em6
|
F#sus4
F#
|
Em
|
Ad lib "Yeah", "Ooh", etc.
Verse 3 (6 bars):
F
G/F
Em
Am
Cmaj7/G
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies.
F
G/F
Em7
Am
Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die.
C#m7b5
A7/C#
Dsus4
D
I can fly, my friends.
Final Chorus (7 bars):
(
D
)
Bm
Bsus2
Bsus4
Bm
The show must go on. Yeah...
G
G11#
Em/G
G
The show must go on.
Em7
Em6
F#sus4
F#
I'll face it with a grin. I'm never giving in.
Em
A#dim
/
E
On with the show.
Outro (16 bars):
|
Bm
Bsus2
|
Bsus4
Bm
|
G
G11# |
Em/G
|
(
G
)
Em7
Em6
Ooh, I'll top the bill. I'll overkill.
F#sus4
F#
Em
Em7
A#dim
/
E
I have the find the will to carry on... (with the, on with the)
Em7
Bm
Bsus2
...
show.
(fade out)
N.B.: The original track fades out on a Bsus4 but when playing live, I usually resolve
Bsus2
into
A
Bm
.
Suggested chord shapes:
EADGBE
Bm
224432
Bsus2
224422
Bsus4
224400
G
320003
G11# 320023
Em/G
322000
Em7
022030
Em6
022020
F#sus4
244422
F#
244322
Em
022000
A#dim
/
E
012020
C#m
446654
C#sus2
446644
C#sus4
446674
A
X02220
A11# X01220
F#m
/
A
X04222
F#m7
244252
F#m6
244242
G#sus4
466644
G#
466544
F#m
244222
Cdim
/
F#
234242
C#dim
/
F#
212020
Edim
XX2323
F
133211
G/F
120003
Am
X02210
Cmaj7/G
432000
C#m7b5 X42000
A7/C#
X42020
Dsus4
XX0233