The Kinks – Arthur (Guitar)

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Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire 1969 [Intro] | A | % | E7 | A | | A | % | E7 | A | [Verse 1]
A
Arthur was born just a plain simple man

     E7                           A
In a plain simple working class position

          A
Though the world was hard and its ways were set

       E7                         A
He was young and he had so much ambition

A
 All the way he was overtaken

       E7                        A
By the people who make the big decisions

      A
But he tried and he tried for a better life

      E7                        A
And a way to improve his own condition

   D                                        | A G | D    A |
If only life were easy it would be such fun

D                                               | C G | D    A |
Things would be more equal and be plenty for everyone
[Chorus]
D
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by

          A7                 D
Don't you know it, don't you know it

       D
You can cry, cry all night but it won't make it right

         A7                D
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

D
 Arthur we know and we sympathize

          A7                 D
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

D
 Arthur we like you and want to help you

A7                           D
Somebody loves you don't you know it
[Interlude] | A | % | E7 | A | | A | % | E7 | A | [Verse 2]
A
 How is your life and your Shangri-la

         E7                     A
And your long lost land of Hallelujah

        A
And your hope and glory has passed you by

          E7                             A
Can't you see what the world is doing to ya

    D                                                   | A G | D    A |
And now we see your children sailing off in the setting sun

D                                             | C G | D    A |
To a new horizon where there's plenty for everyone
[Chorus]
D
 Arthur, could be that the world was wrong

          A7                 D
Don't you know it, don't you know it

D
 Arthur, could be you were right all along

         A7                 D
Don't ya know it, I hope ya know it

D                              | A7 | D |
 Now we know and we sympathize

D                                         | A7 | D |
 We'd like to help you and understand you

         A7                D
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

A7                           D
Somebody loves you, don't ya know it

         A7                D
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
D | A7 D | [Chorus]
D
 Arthur the world's gone and passed you by

          A7                 D
Don't you know it, don't you know it

       D
You can cry, cry all night but it won't make it right

         A7                D
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

D                                        | A7 | D |
 Arthur we read you and understand you

D                                         | A7 | D |
 Arthur we like you and want to help you
[Outro]
D                                    
 Oh! we love you and want to help you

A7                 D
Oh! we love you and want to help you

D                                    
 Oh! we love you and want to help you

A7                           D
Somebody loves you, don't ya know it
(repeat until fade out)