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The Way Things Are

Chords

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[Intro]
B Am F C
B Am F C
[Verse 1]
BI wouldn't know what to Amdo with another Fchance
If you Cgave it to me
BI couldn't take the Amembrace of a real Fromance
It'd Crace right through me
FI'm much bEmetter off the wDmay things are, aAmre
FMuch much bEmetter off, bDmetter by far, bAmy far
[Verse 2]
BI wouldn't know what to Amsay to a gentle Fvoice
It'd Croll right past me
BAnd if you chalk it up you'll Amsee I don't really have a Fchoice
So don't Ceven ask me
FI'm much bEmetter off the wDmay things are, aAmre
FMuch much bEmetter off, bDmetter by far, bAmy far
[Chorus]
       GSo keep on calling me Emnames, keep on, keep Bmon
       GAnd I'll keep Emkicking the crap till it's Bmgone
       GIf you keep on Emkilling, you could get me to Bmsettle
And as soon as I Amsettle, I bet I'll be
FAble to move Amon
F            Am
[Bridge]
     FHow can EmI fight, Fwhen we're on the samEme side
     FHow can EmI fight beside B7you
[Instrumental]
 B   Am   F   Cx2
 F   C   Dm   Amx2
Am
[Chorus]
       GKeep on calling me namEmes, keep on, keep onBm  
       GAnd I'll keep Emkicking the crap till it's Bmgone
       GIf you keep on Emkilling, you could get me to Bmsettle
And as soon as I Amsettle, I bet I'll be
FAble to move Amon
 F   Amx2
[Chorus]
       GSo keep on calling me Emnames, keep on, keep Bmon
       GAnd I'll keep Emkicking the crap till it's Bmgone
       GIf you keep on Emkilling, you could get me to Bmsettle
And as soon as I settle, EmI bet I'll be
FAble to move Amon
 F   Amx12

All chords in this song (9)

The story behind the song

Fiona Apple is an American singer-songwriter known for her distinctive style and critically acclaimed albums. Her work often delves into complex emotional landscapes, with her debut album featuring songs written during her teenage years. "The Way Things Are" appears on her second album, When the Pawn..., which received significant praise. Playing this song can feel like stepping into a deeply personal and introspective reflection on life's realities.

AI-written from these sources:Fiona Apple — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Way Things Are

by Fiona Apple

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

B Am F C

[Verse 1]

B Am F

I wouldn't know what to do with another chance

If you gave it to me

B Am F

I couldn't take the embrace of a real romance

It'd race right through me

F Em Dm Am

I'm much better off the way things are, are

F Em Dm Am

Much much better off, better by far, by far

[Verse 2]

B Am F

I wouldn't know what to say to a gentle voice

It'd roll right past me

B Am F

And if you chalk it up you'll see I don't really have a choice

So don't even ask me

F Em Dm Am

I'm much better off the way things are, are

F Em Dm Am

Much much better off, better by far, by far

[Chorus]

G Em Bm

So keep on calling me names, keep on, keep on

G Em Bm

And I'll keep kicking the crap till it's gone

G Em Bm

If you keep on killing, you could get me to settle

And as soon as I settle, I bet I'll be

F Am

Able to move on

F Am

[Bridge]

F Em F Em

How can I fight, when we're on the same side

F Em B7

How can I fight beside you

[Instrumental]

B Am F C

F C Dm Am

[Chorus]

G Em Bm

Keep on calling me names, keep on, keep on

G Em Bm

And I'll keep kicking the crap till it's gone

G Em Bm

If you keep on killing, you could get me to settle

And as soon as I settle, I bet I'll be

F Am

Able to move on

F Am

[Chorus]

G Em Bm

So keep on calling me names, keep on, keep on

G Em Bm

And I'll keep kicking the crap till it's gone

G Em Bm

If you keep on killing, you could get me to settle

And as soon as I settle, I bet I'll be

F Am

Able to move on

F Am

x12

About The Way Things Are Chords by Fiona Apple

Learn how to play The Way Things Are by Fiona Apple with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Way Things Are chords”, “The Way Things Are guitar chords”, or “Fiona Apple The Way Things Are chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Way Things Are chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Way Things Are lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include B, Am, F, C, Em, Dm.

FAQ — The Way Things Are by Fiona Apple

How do I play "The Way Things Are" by Fiona Apple on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Way Things Are" by Fiona Apple on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Way Things Are" by Fiona Apple free?

Yes. The chords for "The Way Things Are" by Fiona Apple are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Way Things Are" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Way Things Are" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Way Things Are"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Way Things Are" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Way Things Are" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Way Things Are" by Fiona Apple with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Fiona Apple below.

What key is "The Way Things Are" in?

The chords for "The Way Things Are" show the original chord names (including B, Am, F, C, Em, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.