Waterloo Sunset

Words & Music:

Ray Davies

 

1. Andrew DuBrock's Transcription

All hail Andrew DuBrock & Acoustic Guitar magazine!  Andrew transcribed the chords to this tune in the May 2009 issue.  Andrew notes that Ray adds embellishments like Asus4 or "a quick B7 chords at the end of each chorus just before heading to the top of the next verse."  I have left the previous version below this one, since so many people put so much work into those fantabs.

 

INTRO:  B   E  B7  A

 

           E                    B7                 A

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling, flowing into the night?

          E                  B7                  A

People so busy, make me feel dizzy, taxi lights shine so bright.

       F#m  F#m(M7) F#m7     B7

But I don't need no friends,

              E                B7              A

As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise.

 

CHORUS:

A(5) E/G#(4) F#                                         B      E

Sha--la------la.  Everyday, I look at the world from my window.

A(5) E/G#(4) F#                                       B

Sha--la------la.  Chilly, chilly is the evening time, Waterloo Sunset's fine.

 

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station, every Friday night.

But I am so lazy, don't want to wander, I stay at home at night.

But I don't feel afraid,

As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise.

 

CHORUS:

 

Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground.

Terry and Julie cross over the river where they feel safe and sound.

And they don't need no friends,

As long as they gaze on Waterloo Sunset, they are in paradise.

 

CHORUS:  [then out on E  B7  A  B over "Waterloo Sunset's fine..."]

 

Chord voicings:  most chords are the simple versions you all know & love; some variations:

F#m = 2 4 4 2 2 2       F#m(M7) = 2 4 3 2 2 2         F#m7 = 2 4 2 2 2 2

A(5) = 5 7 7 6 5 5      E/G#(4) = 4 x 6 4 5 4

 


2. Previous Fantab Compilation

I have never seen a song that promoted so much discussion (see Dave Emlen's Unofficial Kinks Site).  I've tried to take the best of the versions and make one, but still need to do dual chord lines.  If you are playing in D, capo 2.  Ray must be chuckling at all the consternation.  Anyway, it is a mess.  Look for updates to this one.

 

INTRO:  B7  B7/A  B7/G#  B7/F#  B7/E  B7/D#  B7/C#  B7 - then:

              E                B7                A

B|-------5----------------------------------------------

G|-s6--4---s6-4-----------4-----------------------------

D|----------------4-s6--4----s6-4----------6-4---2------

A|----------------------------------2-4-2------------4--

OR:

G|-------9----------------------------------------------

D|-s9--11--s9/11--9----------9-------------6------------

A|----------------9-11--9---s9/11----------9-7----------

E|----------------------------------7-9-7--------9--(7)-

 

 

          E                    B7*                A

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling, flowing into the night?

          E                  B7*                A

People so busy, make me feel dizzy, taxi lights shine so bright.

      F#m   F#9(+7)       F#m7    B7  [can sub Fm+7 for F#9(+7)]

      F#m   C#/E#         A/C#    B7

But I don't------ need no friends,

             E                B7*             A      A/G# (A/F#)

             E                B               A      E/G#  F#

As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise.

 

CHORUS:

E   F#m E   E7   E7/D   E7/C#       E7/B          A   D    G    D/F#   E

A   E  F#m  F#                                    B   E5/B E5/A E5/G#

Sha-la-la.  Everyday, I look at the world from my window.

E   F#m E   E7      E7/D          E7/C#   E7/B  A7   A7/G  A7/F#  A7/E

A   E  F#m  F#                                  B

Sha-la-la.  Chilly, chilly is the evening time, Waterloo Sunset's fine.

 

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station, every Friday night.

But I am so lazy, don't want to wander, I stay at home at night.

But I don't feel afraid,

As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise.

 

CHORUS:

 

Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground.

Terry and Julie cross over the river where they feel safe and sound.

And they don't need no friends,

As long as they gaze on Waterloo Sunset, they are in paradise.

 

CHORUS:  [then out on: B5  A5 vamp or B11 over "Waterloo Sunset's fine..."]

 

Chord voicings:

B7  = x 2 1 2 0 2            B7*  = x 2 4 2 4 2                  Asus2 = 0 0 2 2 0 0

F#m = 2 4 4 2 2 2            F#m7 = 2 4 2 2 2 2                  A11   = z 7 7 6 5 5

B11 = z 9 9 8 7 7            F#m9(+7) = 2 4 3 2 2 4

 





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