The Smiths – Shoplifters Of The World Unite (Guitar Tab)

Video Lesson

Versions (2)

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BEGINNING NOTES: A few things before you start, The live and studio versions of this song are very similar but I've included the differences where they appear so you can choose whichever version you'd like to play. The studio and one of the live versions of this song is played in standard with no capo and another live version is with a capo on the 2nd fret/F# tuning so its up to whichever you want to play. I've used a music video, and some live clips, along with my own experimentation to compile this tab. Credit to: The Smiths' live performance at Brixton Academy 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaqcWMr1Sqo The Smiths Shoplifters Of The World Unite Official Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJRN76hxFz0 Thank you for using my tab and I hope it is useful. Enjoy playing :) If you want to learn more Smiths songs, check out the rest of my tabs! KEY: ▲ = strum upward ▼ = strum downward b = bend string x = muted note OPENING VERSE:

   ▲  ▼
e|-3----|
B|-0----|
G|-0--1-|  x1
D|-0--2-|
A|-2--2-|
E|-3--0-|

"Learn to love me..."
   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼
e|-------------------------------------------------0---|
B|-------------------------------------------------3-0-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-2-2-|  x3
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-0-2-|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-----|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

Alternative Chords:
e|-------------------------------------------------0-2-|
B|-------------------------------------------------1-3-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-0-2-|
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-2---|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-3---|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

"My only weakness is well nevermind, nevermind oh..."
   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-----|  x1
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-----|  
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-0-0-|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-0-2-|

Notes: The amount of strums of the E chord here is a guideline, Johnny can vary in how many he plays from verse to verse so you've got to feel the song out as you're playing here. The number of strings you strum on the E chord also varies and again you kinda have to feel it out. As long as you're always strumming the top E string then you can't go wrong. The alternative ending chords are occasionally used in live performances of the song, intersperse them into your playing however you see fit.

CHORUS:
"Shoplifters of the world..."
   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼ ▼
e|-3-------------0-|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-3-|
G|-0--0--0--2--0-2-|  x3
D|-0--2--2--2--2---|
A|-2--3--2--0--3---|
E|-3-----0---------|

   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼
e|-3-------------|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-|
G|-0--0--0--2--2-|  x1
D|-0--2--2--2--2-|
A|-2--3--2--0--0-|
E|-3-----0-------|
Notes:
Try to ensure you're holding the chords down long enough so that they can be distinguishable, otherwise
the whole chorus will sound off and messy.

VERSE:
"Learn to love me..."
   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼
e|-------------------------------------------------0---|
B|-------------------------------------------------3-0-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-2-2-|  x3
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-0-2-|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-----|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

Alternative Chords:
e|-------------------------------------------------0-2-|
B|-------------------------------------------------1-3-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-0-2-|
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-2---|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-3---|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

"My only weakness is well nevermind, nevermind oh..."
   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-----|  x1
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-----|  
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-0-0-|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-0-2-|

CHORUS:
"Shoplifters of the world..."
   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼ ▼
e|-3-------------0-|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-3-|
G|-0--0--0--2--0-2-|  x3
D|-0--2--2--2--2---|
A|-2--3--2--0--3---|
E|-3-----0---------|

   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼
e|-3-------------|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-|
G|-0--0--0--2--2-|  x1
D|-0--2--2--2--2-|
A|-2--3--2--0--0-|
E|-3-----0-------|

VERSE:
   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼
e|-------------------------------------------------0---|
B|-------------------------------------------------3-0-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-2-2-|  x3 
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-0-2-|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-----|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

Alternative:
e|-------------------------------------------------0-2-|
B|-------------------------------------------------1-3-|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-1-1-x-x-0-2-|
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-2---|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-2-2-x-x-3---|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-0-0-x-x-----|

   ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ 
e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-1-1-1-1-1-|  x1 
D|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-2-|
E|-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-0-|

BRIDGE:
Studio Version:
            ▼           ▼ ▼   ▼      
e|----------------------------------------|
B|-1/9-7----7-----------8-5---7--------9b-|
G|-------9b-7---7b-9----7-7-9-7---7b-9----|  x2
D|------------9------7b---------9---------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|

Live Version:
          ▼           ▼ ▼   ▼        ▼  ▼  ▲  ▼ ▼
e|-----------------------------------8--8--8--6-5-|
B|-9-7----7-----------7-5---7--------10-10-10-8-7-|
G|-----9b-7---7b-9----8-7-9-7---7b-9--------------|  x1
D|----------9------7b---------9-------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|

      ▼           ▼ ▼   ▼        ▼  ▼  ▲  ▼  ▲
e|-------------------------------8--8--8--8--8--|
B|----7-----------7-5---7--------10-10-10-10-10-|
G|-9b-7---7b-9----8-7-9-7---7b-9-9--9--9--9--9--|  x1
D|------9------7b---------9---------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
Notes:
If playing the live version, slide back up the fretboard on the last D minor chord to then proceed into
the ending verse.

ENDING VERSE:
"A heartless hand on my shoulder..."
   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼ ▼
e|-3-------------0-|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-3-|
G|-0--0--0--2--0-2-|  x11
D|-0--2--2--2--2---|
A|-2--3--2--0--3---|
E|-3-----0---------|

   ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼ ▼ ▼
e|-3-------------0-3-|
B|-0--1--1--1--1-3-0-|
G|-0--0--0--2--0-2-0-|  x1
D|-0--2--2--2--2---0-|
A|-2--3--2--0--3---2-|
E|-3-----0---------3-|

Notes: If you're following the studio version, let the last G chord ring out. If you're following the live versions, continuously strum the G chord to your heart's content.