May92022

Belle and Sebastian – Working Boy In New York City Chords Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsC Bm G G5 B5 E5 D5 C5 A5 Em7 D Bm7 Am Am7 Bb

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These are the chords for Working Boy In New York City by Belle and Sebastian on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

[Intro]
C    Bm    C    G
C    Bm    C    G

[Verse 1]
G5    B5
Pray, hey!
         E5
You're a working boy
              D5
in New York City
G5           C5
You took the train
                 B5
to liberate your body
             A5
And liberate your heart
        D5
You are trying to find a
G     Bm
Home, soon
           Em7
Always the saddest when
               D
a friend can't make it
G             C
Love everyone along the way
    Bm7                   C
You never had a chance to tell them
               Am
What you would like to do
       G            D
If the love permits you

[Chorus]
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at making heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at making heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate

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[Verse 2]
G5    B5
Pray, gay
            E5
You are the holy boy
            D5
outside the scriptures
         C5
Far and away from all
              B5
the brightest sunbeams
             A5
You chose to stay and fight
         D5
from the inside outside
G     Bm
Don't fight
              Em7
Make like the cutest owl
             D
and use your feathers
              C
Make like the elephant and
         Bm7              C
use your memory to pick a path
              Am
Make like the sleeping bird
         G         D
Dreaming of the morning

[Chorus]
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at seeing heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at seeing heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Instrumental]
G    Bm    Em7    D
C    Bm7   Am7    D
G    Bm    Em7    D
C    Bm7   Am7    G  D

[Verse 3]
G5    B5
Pray, hey
            E5
God doesn't care about
               D5
the way you're leaning
             C5
Once you are happy and
             B5
you know yourself
                  A5
Peace can come in your heart
        G5         D5
You can make a new start
G   Bm
One day
           Em7
We will be justified
            D
without the struggle
           C                      Bm7
We will be recognised for what we do
                  Am7
Not criticised or hated just
for the way you are
         G    D
You will be a star

[Chorus]
C
Listen to the music of
    Bm
the traffic in the city
C              G
Singing to the hope inside you
C
Listen to the music of
    Bb
the traffic in the city
C              G
Singing to the hope
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at making heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate
C                      Bm
Everybody gets an even shot
at making heaven
C           G
Wide is the gate

[Outro]
G

How to play Working Boy In New York City: key, chords and progression

Working Boy In New York City by Belle and Sebastian is in the key of G major (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 15 chords: C, Bm, G, G5, B5, E5, D5, C5, A5, Em7, D and Bm7 and 3 more.

The progression the song keeps returning to is C – Bm – C – G (IV – iii – IV – I in G major). In solfa, that is fah – mi – fah – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: Bm, B5, Bm7 and Bb are played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into them slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.