You've Got To Stand For Something chords by Aaron Tippin (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

E
B
A
C#m
A/B
F#m
E/G#
B7

Intro 1

Verse 1
E 
Now, Dad (E major) dy didn't like trouble,
B 
E 
but  (B major) if it came along  (E major) 
A 
E 
Everyone  (A major) that knew  (E major) him
B 
knew which side that he'd be on  (B major) 
A 
E 
He  (A major) never was a he (E major) ro
A 
E 
or this coun (A major) ty's shinin' light  (E major) 
C#m 
A 
But you could  (C sharp minor) always find him  (A major) standing up
B 
E 
For  (B major) what he thought was  (E major) right
He'd say

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Chorus 1

You've got to stand for something

or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man,

not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right

and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something

or you'll fall for anything

Interlude 1

Verse 2
E 
Now, we might  (E major) have been better off
B 
E 
or owned  (B major) a bigger house  (E major) 
A 
E 
If Dad (A major) dy had done more  (E major) givin' in
B 
or a little more backing down  (B major) 
A 
E 
But we al (A major) ways had  (E major) plenty
A 
E 
just a-  (A major) livin' his advice:  (E major) 
C#m 
A 
"Whatev (C sharp minor) er you do today,  (A major) 
B 
E 
you'll have to  (B major) sleep with tonight"  (E major) 
He'd say

Chorus 2
E 
You've  (E major) got to stand for something
A 
E 
or you'll fall  (A major) for anything  (E major) 
You've got to be your own man,
B 
not a puppet on a  (B major) string
A 
A/B 
E 
Never com (A major) promise  (A/B) what's  (E major) right
A 
A/B 
E 
and uphold  (A major) your family  (A/B) name  (E major) 
F#m 
E/G# 
A 
You've  (F sharp minor) got   to stand  (E/G#) for some (A major) thing
B7 
E 
or you'll fall  (B7) for anything  (E major) 

Bridge 1

Now I know that things are different

Than they were in Daddy's day

But I still believe what makes a man

really hasn't changed

Chorus 3
E 
You've  (E major) got to stand for something
A 
E 
or you'll fall  (A major) for anything  (E major) 
You've got to be your own man,
B 
not a puppet on a  (B major) string
A 
A/B 
E 
Never com (A major) promise  (A/B) what's  (E major) right
A 
A/B 
E 
and uphold  (A major) your family  (A/B) name  (E major) 
F#m 
E/G# 
A 
You've  (F sharp minor) got   to stand  (E/G#) for some (A major) thing
B7 
C#m 
or you'll fall  (B7) for anything  (C sharp minor) 

Outro 1

You've got to stand for something

or you'll fall for anything

1991Country

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GuitarPianoUkulele

E
B
A
C#m
A/B
F#m
E/G#
B7

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: E majorBPM: 92

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

E: 0-2-2-1-0-0
B: x-2-4-4-4-x
A: x-0-2-2-2-0
C#m: x-4-6-6-5-x
A/B: x-2-x-2-2-0
F#m: 2-4-4-2-2-2
E/G#: 4-x-2-4-0-0
B7: x-2-1-2-0-2

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of You've Got To Stand For Something by Aaron Tippin, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of E major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of Aaron Tippin's performance.