This is the chord progression of When The Lights Come On by They Might Be Giants.
[Verse]
Bm G
I’ll make a reckless prediction
A
I’ll still be in the kitchen
D D/C#
When the lights come on
Bm G
I think we’ll probably be good
A
If stuff is still where it stood
D
When the lights come on
Bm G
We won’t remember each other
A
But we’ll probably recover
D D/C#
Unless everyone’s gone
Bm G
It might be too soon to say this
A
But I think that we may just
D
See the lights come on
[Chorus]
A
See I’ve been picturing
D G D A
Diagrams of master plans
Bm Em
I taught myself to draw in the dust
C G A Bm
With what remains of my left hand
[Verse]
Bm G
And from what I can tell
A
I’ll be no more than a shell
D D/C#
Or an automaton
Bm G
But we’ll be laughing and shit
A
It will have been worth it
D
When the lights come on
[Bridge]
Bm Em
Unless we chicken out again
C A Bm
Which is exactly how we ended up in here
G
Our guard was down, we were disarmed
Em F#
They tampered with the smoke alarm
[Verse]
Bm G
There won’t be any more trouble
A
You’ll be dragged from the rubble
D D/C#
When the lights come on
Bm G
And I’ll be looking so great
A
I will have lost some weight
D
When the lights come on
Bm G
We will be growing mustaches
A
Once we’re raised from the ashes
D D/C#
When the lights come on
Bm G
We’ll be encased in gold
A
Desiccated and old
D
When the lights come on
[Chorus]
A
See I’ve been picturing
D G D A
Diagrams of master plans
Bm Em
I taught myself to draw in the dust
C G A F#
With what remains of my left hand
[Bridge]
F# Bm
And from what I can tell
G
Groping around, there’s something else
Em A
I feel a face, I feel a pulse
Bm G
I think I’m tripping
A D D/C#
Something’s got me by the hair
Bm G
Let’s table this discussion
A D D/C#
Until my concussion on the bottom stair
G Em
Unless I pass out once again
C A Bm
And find the bandage where my kidney used to be
G
Knocked over lamp, some broken plates
Em F#
Prescription pads for opiates
[Outro]
Bm G A D D/C#
Bm G A D
For corrections please use the comment box below
