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The Riddle

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Gminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
|  F#m   E/G#|  A   B|  F#m   E/G#|  D   A|
|  F#m   E/G#|  A   B|  F#m   E/G#|  D   A|  Bm7   A/C#   D   E|  F#m  E/G#  
[Verse 1]
I got tAwo strong aBrms
C#mBlessings of DBabylon
BmTime to Gcarry on
And F#mtry
For E/G#sins and Afalse Balarms
C#mSo to AmeDrica the D#mbraveA#m  
BmWise A/C#men sDave
[Chorus]
ENear a tF#mree by a E/G#river
There's a Ahole in the Bground
Where an F#mold man of E/G#Aran
Goes Daround and Aaround
And his F#mmind is a E/G#beacon
In the Aveil of the Bnight
For a F#mstrange kind of E/G#fashion
There's a Dwrong and a Aright
But he'll Bm7never, A/C#never Dfight Eover F#myouE/G#  
[Verse 2]
I got Aplans for Bus
C#mNights in the Dscullery
And Bmdays inGstead of me
I F#monly knE/G#ow what Ato discussB  
C#mOh for Danything but D#mlightA#m  
Bm7Wise A/C#men figDhting Eover F#myouE/G#  
[Verse 3]
It's not Ame you Bsee
C#mPieces of Dvalentine
With Bmjust a Gsong of mine
To F#mkeep from E/G#burning AhistorBy
C#mSeasons of Dgasoline and D#mgoldA#m  
BmWise A/C#men fDold
[Chorus]
ENear a tF#mree by a E/G#river
There's a Ahole in the Bground
Where an F#mold man of E/G#Aran
Goes Daround and Aaround
And his F#mmind is a E/G#beacon
In the Aveil of the Bnight
For a F#mstrange kind of E/G#fashion
There's a Dwrong and a Aright
But he'll Bm7never, A/C#never Dfight Eover GyouC  
[Bridge]
I got Ftime to BbkillA  
Sly looks in D/F#corridors
WithGout a Fplan of yours
A Esus4blackbird Esings on AmBlueG/Bbird CHill
DThanks to the D/Ccalling of the BbwildEb  
CmWise Bb/Dmens' EbchildF  
[Middle 8]
| Gm     F|  Bb    C| Gm   F/A|  Eb   Bb|
| Gm     F|  Bb    C| Gm   F/A|  Eb   Bb| Cm   Bb/D  Eb  
[Chorus]
FNear a Gmtree by a F/Ariver
There's a Bbhole in the Cground
Where an Gmold man of F/AAran
Goes aEbround and aBbround
And his Gmmind is a F/Abeacon
In the Bbveil of the Cnight
For a Gmstrange kind of F/Afashion
There's a Ebwrong and a Bbright
But he'll Cm7never, Bb/Dnever Ebfight
[Outro]
FNear a Gmtree by a F/Ariver
There's a Bbhole in the Cground
Where an Gmold man of F/AAran
Goes aEbround and aBbround
And his Gmmind is a F/Abeacon
In the Bbveil of the Cnight
For a Gmstrange kind of F/Afashion
There's a Ebwrong and a Bbright
But he'll Cm7never, Bb/Dnever Ebfight Fover Cm7youBb/D  Eb  
FNo he'll Cm7never, Bb/Dnever Ebfight Fover Gmyou

All chords in this song (24)

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The Riddle

by Nik Kershaw

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

E/G#

Bm7

A/C#

C#m

D#m

A#m

D/F#

Esus4

G/B

D/C

Bb/D

[Intro]

F#m E/G# A B F#m E/G# D A

| | | | |

F#m E/G# A B F#m E/G# D A Bm7 A/C# D E F#m E/G#

| | | | | |

[Verse 1]

A B

I got two strong arms

C#m D

Blessings of Babylon

Bm G

Time to carry on

F#m

And try

E/G# A B

For sins and false alarms

C#m D D#m A#m

So to America the brave

Bm A/C# D

Wise men save

[Chorus]

E F#m E/G#

Near a tree by a river

A B

There's a hole in the ground

F#m E/G#

Where an old man of Aran

D A

Goes around and around

F#m E/G#

And his mind is a beacon

A B

In the veil of the night

F#m E/G#

For a strange kind of fashion

D A

There's a wrong and a right

Bm7 A/C# D E F#m E/G#

But he'll never, never fight over you

[Verse 2]

A B

I got plans for us

C#m D

Nights in the scullery

Bm G

And days instead of me

F#m E/G# A B

I only know what to discuss

C#m D D#m A#m

Oh for anything but light

Bm7 A/C# D E F#m E/G#

Wise men fighting over you

[Verse 3]

A B

It's not me you see

C#m D

Pieces of valentine

Bm G

With just a song of mine

F#m E/G# A B

To keep from burning history

C#m D D#m A#m

Seasons of gasoline and gold

Bm A/C# D

Wise men fold

[Chorus]

E F#m E/G#

Near a tree by a river

A B

There's a hole in the ground

F#m E/G#

Where an old man of Aran

D A

Goes around and around

F#m E/G#

And his mind is a beacon

A B

In the veil of the night

F#m E/G#

For a strange kind of fashion

D A

There's a wrong and a right

Bm7 A/C# D E G C

But he'll never, never fight over you

[Bridge]

F Bb A

I got time to kill

D/F#

Sly looks in corridors

G F

Without a plan of yours

Esus4 E Am G/B C

A blackbird sings on Bluebird Hill

D D/C Bb Eb

Thanks to the calling of the wild

Cm Bb/D Eb F

Wise mens' child

[Middle 8]

Gm F Bb C Gm F/A Eb Bb

| | | | |

Gm F Bb C Gm F/A Eb Bb Cm Bb/D Eb

| | | | |

[Chorus]

F Gm F/A

Near a tree by a river

Bb C

There's a hole in the ground

Gm F/A

Where an old man of Aran

Eb Bb

Goes around and around

Gm F/A

And his mind is a beacon

Bb C

In the veil of the night

Gm F/A

For a strange kind of fashion

Eb Bb

There's a wrong and a right

Cm7 Bb/D Eb

But he'll never, never fight

[Outro]

F Gm F/A

Near a tree by a river

Bb C

There's a hole in the ground

Gm F/A

Where an old man of Aran

Eb Bb

Goes around and around

Gm F/A

And his mind is a beacon

Bb C

In the veil of the night

Gm F/A

For a strange kind of fashion

Eb Bb

There's a wrong and a right

Cm7 Bb/D Eb F Cm7 Bb/D Eb

But he'll never, never fight over you

F Cm7 Bb/D Eb F Gm

No he'll never, never fight over you

About The Riddle Chords by Nik Kershaw

Learn how to play The Riddle by Nik Kershaw with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Riddle chords”, “The Riddle guitar chords”, or “Nik Kershaw The Riddle 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 Riddle chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Riddle lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#m, E/G#, A, B, D, Bm7.

FAQ — The Riddle by Nik Kershaw

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The chords for "The Riddle" show the original chord names (including F#m, E/G#, A, B, D, Bm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.