Video lesson
No PDF chord sheet exists for this lesson
As of now, I haven't made a printable PDF to accompany this video lesson. If you'd like to request that I make one, shoot me an email. I can't guarantee I'll make a PDF for every older lesson, but it's helpful to know which lessons have the most interest.
Here's a list of the 200+ lessons I have made PDFs for.
Chords w/ lyrics
(capo 6th fret)
INTRO
(no chords, see below for tab)
Wait 'til you’re announced
We’ve not yet lost all our graces
The hounds will stay in chains
Look upon your greatness that you'll
Send the call out, send the call out
Send the call out, send the call out
(...repeat as desired)
VERSE
C
...Call all the ladies out
C
...They’re in their finery
Am
...A hundred jewels on throats
G
...A hundred jewels between teeth
C
...Now bring my boys in
C
...Their skin in craters like the moon
Am
...The moon we love like a brother
G
...While he glows through the room
PRE-CHORUS
C
Dancing around the lies we tell
C
Dancing around big eyes as well
Am
Oh-ohhhh... even the comatose
G (let ring)
...They don’t dance and tell
CHORUS
F Am G
...We live in cities..... you'll never see on screen
G Am
...Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
F Am G
...Living in the ruins..... of the palace within my dreams
G F
...And you know, we're on each other's team
REFRAIN
(quiet strumming)
F Am
...I'm kind of over getting told
G
To throw my hands up in the air... so there
(normal strumming)
C
...So all the cups got broke
C
...Shards beneath our feet
Am G
...But it wasn’t my fault...
C
...And everyone’s competing
C Am
...For a love they won't receive
Am G (let ring)
...'Cause what this palace wants... is release
F Am G
...We live in cities..... you'll never see on screen
G Am
...Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
F Am G
...Living in the ruins..... of the palace within my dreams
G F
...And you know, we're on each other's team
(quiet strumming)
F Am
...I'm kind of over getting told
G
To throw my hands up in the air... so there
F Am
...I’m kinda older than I was
G
When I reveled without a care... so there
(normal strumming)
F Am G
...We live in cities..... you'll never see on screen
G Am
...Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
F Am G
...Living in the ruins..... of the palace within my dreams
G F
...And you know, we're on each other's team...
Am G
...We're on each other's team
G F
...And you know, we're on each other's team...
Am G
...We're on each other's team
G F (let ring)
...And you know, and you know, and you know...
Notes and tabs
Capo 6th Fret, Standard Tuning
If you want to play along with the Lorde album version of this song, you’ll need to put a capo on the 6th fret and use the chords shown here. You can certainly play this song without a capo, but if you use the chords I show here you’ll be in a different key from Lorde’s version – which is fine unless you plan on playing along with her.
Guitar Chords Used
Here is how to play the guitar chords used in this song. Note, the Lorde recording doesn’t use a guitar, so I’m basing these solely off the tonal implications heard in her recording.
e-|---0----3----0----1----
B-|---1----0----1----1----
G-|---0----0----2----2----
D-|---2----0----2----3----
A-|---3----2----0----3----
E-|--------3---------1----
C G Am F
Strumming Pattern
There is a very distinct strumming pattern that works well with this song, which I carefully explain in my video lesson. The trick is to combine your accented strum on the “1” (one) and “2+” (two-and) beats, while adding a percussive slap/chop on the “2 and “4” beats. Again, I recommend watching my video lesson to see/hear this in action. Here is a crude text representation of this pattern, showing both components:
v = strum!
x = muted chop/slap
v v v v v v
======================================================================
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ...etc
======================================================================
x x x x x x
Intro Guitar Tab
Here’s how to play the intro, which Lorde sings over. These notes match the notes she sings. Check out the Juliana cover (below) to see/hear this played with the singing.
e-|------------------------------------|-
B-|------------------------------------|-
G-|------------------------------------|-
D-|--------------1------3--3/5---------|-
A-|---/3-----3-------------------------|-
E-|------------------------------------|-
"Wait 'til you're an~~~nounced..."
-|----------------------------------------|-
-|----------------------------------------|-
-|--------------3-------------------------|-
-|---5------5-------5----3---5---3--3/2---|-
-|----------------------------------------|-
-|----------------------------------------|-
"We’ve not yet lost all our gra~~ces..."
-|----------------------------------------------|-
-|----------------------------------------------|-
-|---------------------------------5------------|-
-|--------------------2----3--3/5-----5--3--2---|-
-|-------/3------3------------------------------|-
-|----------------------------------------------|-
"The hounds will stay in chains~~~~~~~~~"
-|------------------------------------|--------------------|-
-|------------------------------------|--------------------|-
-|----------3-------------------------|--------------------|-
-|-/5----5-----5----3----5----3----2--|--------------------|-
-|------------------------------------|---3----3---1----3--|-
-|------------------------------------|--------------------|-
"Look up~on your greatness that you'll send the call out..."
-|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
-|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
-|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
-|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
-|---3----3---1----3--|--3----3---1----3--|--3----3---1----3---|- ...etc
-|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------|-
"...send the call out, send the call out, send the call out..."
Chord progressions
VERSE
"Call all the ladies out..."
| C . . . | C . . . | Am . . . | G . . . |
| C . . . | C . . . | Am . . . | G . . . |
PRE-CHORUS
"Dancing around the lies we tell..."
| C . . . | C . . . | Am . . . | G . . . |
CHORUS
"We live in cities..."
| F . . . | Am . . . | G . . . | G . Am . |
| F . . . | Am . . . | G . . . | G . . . |
REFRAIN
"I'm kinda over being told..."
| F . . . | Am . . . | G . . . | G . . . |
Good luck!
Let me know if you have any questions. I hope this was helpful.
Get my lessons in your inbox!
Every couple weeks I send out an email newsletter with links to whatever new lessons I've made. Sign up here and stay in the loop!
Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!
If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).
You can also support me on Patreon. For only $3/month you'll get access to a print-friendly PDF of my notes for each new lesson (view free sample).
Thanks!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!
Recent video lessons:
📝 My "song" PDFs are now individually purcasheable! I've arranged a licensing agreement with Musicnotes, a service that lets you buy sheet music. Patreon suppoters get 50% off each purchase. Get the latest info here » (last updated July 1, 2021)
October 14, 2021
How to Tune Half-Step Down (E-Flat Tuning)
A quick guide to tuning all your strings down 1/2 step (E-flat tuning), which is a very common alternate tuning used in many songs.
October 2, 2021
F Chord Cheat Sheet! 7 Easier Ways to Play It
A quick inventory of 8 different ways to play the dreaded F chord, 7 of which are easier than the dreaded six-string barred version.
September 28, 2021
Beginner Riffs with Major 7th Arpeggios
A quick exercise where I share over 10 riffs based on a single arpeggio shape, using major 7th chord tones. Backing track included!
September 19, 2021
Key of C Major Cheat Sheet!
A deep dive into everything you need to know when playing in the Key of C: notes, chords, fretboard map, tips & tricks, easier ways to play the F chord, and plenty more.
September 12, 2021
Major Scale Positions & CAGED Chord Shapes
A deep-dive into the common positions of the major scale, and how they each relate to the CAGED chord shapes... which makes it all easier to understand!
August 29, 2021
First Electric! 8 Things I Didn't Expect
I recently got my 1st electric guitar, and was surprised how many things immediately confused me. Here's a quick inventory, in case it helps anyone else starting out!
Browse my all lessons
By lesson type
By song decade
By musical genre
By guitar technique
By musical key
By popular artist
- Johnny Cash
- Tyler Childers
- Tom Petty
- Neil Young
- Nirvana
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Willie Nelson
- John Denver
- Guns N' Roses