Close to the Borderline chords by
Billy Joel

N/A•7 views•

Key: A major•

Intro 1

G

G

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C

C

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F

F

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G

G

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C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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Verse 1

G

G

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Blackout,

Bb

Bb

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heatwave, .44 caliber homicide

C

C

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F

F

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The bums drop dead and dogs gone mad

C

C

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F

F

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In packs on the West Side

C

C

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G

G

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Young girl standing on a ledge

Bb

Bb

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looks like another suicide

F

F

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She wants to hit those bricks

'Cause the news at six gotta

C

C

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F

F

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stick to a deadline

D

D

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While the millionaires hide

Em

Em

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in Beekman Place

C

C

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The bag ladies throw

G

G

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their bones in my face

D

D

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Em

Em

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I get attacked by a kid with stereo sound

C

C

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I don't want to hear it but

G

G

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he won't turn it down

D

D

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B

B

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Life is tough but it's just enough

Em

Em

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D

D

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To hold back the tears

G

G

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C

C

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un til it's closing time

G

G

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C

C

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I survived, I'm still alive

D

D

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But I'm getting close to

G

G

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C

C

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the borderline

F

F

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Close to the borderline

G

G

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Verse 2

C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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G

G

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A buck three eighty

Won't buy you much lately

Bb

Bb

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on the street these days

F

F

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And when you can't get gas

You know you can't drive fast

C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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anymore on the parkways

G

G

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Rich man, poor man,

either way American

Bb

Bb

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Shoved in to the lost and found

F

F

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The no-nukes yell "we're gonna

all go to hell"

C

C

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With the next big meltdown

F

F

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C

C

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D

D

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Em

Em

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I got remote control and a col or T.V.

C

C

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I don't change channels so

G

G

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they must change me

D

D

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Em

Em

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I got real close friends that will get me high

G

G

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C

C

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They don't know how to talk

G

G

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and they ain't gonna try

D

D

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B

B

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I shouldn't bitch, I shouldn't cry

Em

Em

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D

D

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G

G

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C

C

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I'd start a revolution but I don't have time

G

G

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C

C

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I don't know why I'm still a nice guy

G

G

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D

D

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But I'm getting close to the borderline

G

G

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C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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Close to the borderline

G

G

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Verse 3

C

C

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F

F

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G

G

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Bm

Bm

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I thought I'd sacri

G

G

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C

C

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fice so many things

Bm

Bm

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G

G

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D

D

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G

G

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I thought I'd throw them all away

Em

Em

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I didn't think I needed anything

D

D

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C

C

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D

D

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But you can't afford to squander what you're not

G

G

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prepared to pay

Interlude 1

Bb

Bb

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Eb

Eb

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F

F

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C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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G

G

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Bb

Bb

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F

F

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C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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D

D

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I need

Verse 4

Em

Em

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a doctor for my pressure pills

C

C

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G

G

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I need a lawyer for my medical bills

D

D

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Em

Em

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I need a banker to finance my home

C

C

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G

G

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But I need security to back my loan

D

D

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B

B

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It isn't new what I'm going

through

Em

Em

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D

D

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But everybody knows you got

C

C

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to break sometime

G

G

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C

C

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An other night I fought the good fight

D

D

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But I'm getting closer to

G

G

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C

C

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the borderline

F

F

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C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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Closer to the borderline

G

G

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Closer to the borderline

C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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F

F

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G

G

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C

C

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F

F

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C

C

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Closer to the borderline

G

G

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Closer to the borderline

C

C

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To the borderline

F

F

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C

C

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To the borderline

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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

G
C
F
Bb
D
Em
B
Bm
Eb

Capo: 2

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of Close to the Borderline by Billy Joel is A major.

The primary chords used in Close to the Borderline are A, D, G, C, E, F#m.

To play in the original key, place your capo on the 2 fret.

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

The tempo of Close to the Borderline is approximately 91 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of Close to the Borderline 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 Close to the Borderline. 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 Billy Joel.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add Close to the Borderline 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 Close to the Borderline by Billy Joel on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.