Billy Bragg – Which Side Are You On (Guitar)
Capo 5
Key
-
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Speed:
1.0x
Chords
This tab is based on the linked live performance of the song, highly recommend watching the video and
playing along to get the phrasing right; these chords are pretty close but not perfect.
[Intro]
(Hammer on into each of these chords)
Em D Em x3
C
Em Em (hammer on from an open A and D strings into the E minor, there's a simple little riff that
Bragg repeats here)
[Verse 1]
Em D Em This government had an idea C Em A5 And parliament made it law (play A5 in the open position and give it a little bend) Em D Em It seems like it's illegal C Em To fight for the union any more
[Chorus]
Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em A5 Which side are you on? Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em Which side are you on?
Em
[Verse 2]
Em D Em We set out to join the picket line C Em A5 For together we cannot fail Em D Em We got stopped by police at the county line C Em They said, "Go home boys or you're going to jail"
[Chorus]
Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em A5 Which side are you on? Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em Which side are you on?
Em
[Verse 3]
Em D Em It's hard to explain to a crying child C Em A5 Why her Daddy can't go back Em D Em So the family suffer but it hurts me more C Em To hear a scab say Sod you, Jack
[Chorus]
Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em A5 Which side are you on? Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em Which side are you on?
Em
[Verse 4]
Em D Em I'm bound to follow my conscience C Em A5 And do whatever I can Em D Em But it'll take much more than the union law C Em To knock the fight out of a working man
[Chorus]
Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em A5 Which side are you on? Em D Em Which side are you on, boys? C Em Which side are you on?