Can't Win chords by
Richard Thompson

N/A•1 views•

Key: E minor•

Verse 1

E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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B

B

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I started to cry,

E

E

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D

D

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A

A

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they put gin in my cup

E

E

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Bm

Bm

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E

E

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I started to crawl,

A

A

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Bm

Bm

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and they swaddled me up

E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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I got up and run, they said "Easy, son,

A

A

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E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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Play up, play the game"

Bm

Bm

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They told me to think

Verse 2

E

E

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and

forget what I'd heard

D

D

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E

E

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They told me to lie and

A

A

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E

E

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they questioned my word

A

A

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E

E

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A

A

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They told me to fail, better sink than sail,

E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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A

A

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Just play the game

Verse 3

Em

Em

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A

A

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Oh, towers will tumble and lo

Em

Em

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A

A

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custs will visit the land

Em

Em

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A

A

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Oh, a curse on your house and your chil

Em

Em

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F#m

F#m

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dren and the fruit of your hand

B

B

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They said "You

Verse 4

E

E

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Em

Em

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can't win

E

E

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G

G

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You can't win

F#dim

F#dim

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You sweat blood

F

F

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You give in

Verse 5

Em

Em

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G

G

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Em

Em

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You can't win. You can't win

F#dim

F#dim

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Turn the cheek

F

F

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Take it on the chin

Em

Em

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Don't you dare do this

Verse 6

Em

Em

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Don't you dare do that"

C

C

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We shoot down dreams,

A

A

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We stiletto in the back

Em

Em

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Oh the nerve of some people,

Verse 7

Em

Em

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The nerve of some people,

C

C

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The nerve of some

A

A

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I don't know who you think you are,

Who you think you are

E

E

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Verse 8

B

B

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Bm

Bm

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E

E

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Bm

Bm

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E

E

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Oh what kind of mother

D

D

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A

A

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would hamstring her sons?

E

E

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Throw sand in their eyes and

put ice on their tongues

A

A

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Ah better to leave than

E

E

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A

A

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stay here and grieve

E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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And play the game

Bm

Bm

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E

E

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Don't waken the dead

Verse 9

as

Bm

Bm

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you sleepwalk around

C#m

C#m

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B

B

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E

E

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If you have a dream, brother,

Bm

Bm

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E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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hush, not a sound

A

A

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E

E

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A

A

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Just stand there and rust, die if you must

E

E

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A

A

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E

E

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But play the game

Verse 10

Em

Em

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A

A

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Oh, if we can't have it,

Em

Em

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A

A

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Why should a wretch like you?

Em

Em

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A

A

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Oh, it was drilled in our heads,

Em

Em

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F#

F#

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Now we drill it into your head too

B

B

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They said "You

Verse 11

Em

Em

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can't win

G

G

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You can't win

F#dim

F#dim

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You sweat blood

F

F

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You give in

Verse 12

E

E

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Em

Em

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You can't win

G

G

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Em

Em

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You can't win

F#dim

F#dim

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Turn the cheek

F

F

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Take it on the chin

Verse 13

Em

Em

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Don't you dare do this

Don't you dare do that"

C

C

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We shoot down dreams,

Verse 14

A

A

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We stiletto in the back

Em

Em

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Oh, the nerve of some people,

The nerve of some people,

C

C

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The nerve of some people

A

A

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Em

Em

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I don't know who you think you are

Verse 15

Em

Em

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G

G

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C

C

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The nerve of some people,

A

A

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the nerve of some people

Em

Em

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The nerve of some people,

the nerve of some people

C

C

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The nerve of some people,

A

A

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the nerve of some people

Em

Em

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D

D

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Em

Em

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D

D

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C

C

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The nerve of some people, the nerve of some people

Outro 1

A

A

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Em

Em

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C

C

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Em

Em

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G

G

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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Em

Em

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C

C

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D

D

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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Em

Em

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C

C

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Em

Em

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A

A

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Em

Em

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C

C

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Em

Em

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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Em

Em

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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Em

Em

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D

D

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C

C

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Am

Am

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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Em

Em

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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A

A

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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G

G

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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C

C

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A

A

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Bm

Bm

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A

A

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Em

Em

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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G

G

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Bm

Bm

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C

C

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D

D

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Em

Em

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A

A

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Em

Em

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Bm

Bm

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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C

C

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Em

Em

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A

A

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Em

Em

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G

G

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D

D

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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D

D

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C

C

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A

A

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D

D

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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C

C

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G

G

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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Bm

Bm

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D

D

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C

C

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A

A

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G

G

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Em

Em

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G

G

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C

C

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Am

Am

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A

A

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Em

Em

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G

G

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C

C

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A

A

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C

C

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G

G

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Em

Em

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D

D

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C

C

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A

A

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Em

Em

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D

D

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C

C

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Em

Em

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A

A

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E

E

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D

D

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A

A

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E

E

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Esus4

Esus4

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E

E

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Em

Em

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A

A

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Am

Am

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A

A

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E

E

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Em

Em

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G

G

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An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

Chords

E
A
B
D
Bm
Em
F#m
G
F#dim
F
C
C#m
F#
Am
Esus4

Capo: 0

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of Can't Win by Richard Thompson is E minor.

The primary chords used in Can't Win are E, A, B, D, Bm, Em.

No capo is required for this song.

Yes, this version uses open chords like E, A, B, D, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

The tempo of Can't Win is approximately 97 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of Can't Win using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for Can't Win. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Richard Thompson.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add Can't Win to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for Can't Win by Richard Thompson on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.