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The Chauffeur

Chords

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Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

FINE TUNING:
The original 'Rio' album track is slightly flat of
standard pitch
Alternatively, play along with a live version,
IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website
options for a particular chord progression. Just use
Em    = 022000   G/D = xx0003    C     = x32010
D     = xx0232   B   = x24442    C7/Bb = x12010
G     = 320033   B7  = x21202    D/F#  = 20023x
B7/D# = xx1202
^ = Emphasise the beats
[Fade-in]
  (G)  (B7/D#)
| /  /  /  / |
[Intro]
| Em/  /  D/  / | G/  /  B7/D#/  / | Em/  /  D/  / | G/  /  B7/D#/  / |
| Em/  /  D/  / | G/  /  B7/D#/  / |
[Verse 1]
    EmOut on the Dtar plains G...the glides are B7/D#moving,
    EmAll Dlooking for a Gnew place to B7/D#drive,
    EmYou sit be - Dside me, G...so newly B7/D#charming,
    EmSweating Ddewdrops glisten Gfresh in your B7/D#side
[Chorus]
And the G/Dsun drips down bedding B7/D#heavy behind,
The Emfront of your dress all B7/D#shadowy lined,
The G/Ddroning engine B7/D#throbs in time... 
With Emyour beating B7/D#heart  | G/D/  /  B7/D#/  / | Em/  /  B7/D#/  / |
| G/D/  /  B7/D#/  / | Em/  /  D/  / | B/  /  /  / | B7/  / |
[Verse 2]
    EmWay down the Dlane a way,
    GLiving for a - B7/D#nother day,
    EmThe aphids Dclimb up in the G...drifting B7/D#haze,
    EmSwim seagull Din the sky...
To - Gwards that hollow B7/D#western isle,
     EmMy envied Dlady holds you Gfast in her B7/D#gaze
[Chorus]
And the G/Dsun drips down bedding B7/D#heavy behind,
The Emfront of your dress all B7/D#shadowy lined,
The G/Ddroning engine B7/D#throbs in time... 
With Emyour beating B7/D#heart
[Chorus]
And the G/Dsun drips down bedding B7/D#heavy behind,
The Emfront of your dress all B7/D#shadowy lined,
The G/Ddroning engine B7/D#throbs in time... 
With Emyour beating BheartB7  
[Bridge]
   CSing--C7/Bb-----  blue Bsilver  | B7/  /  /_B7/D#/ /_/ |
                                        ^ ^ ^
| Em/  /  D/F#/  / | G/  /  B/  / | Em/  /  D/F#/  / | G/  /  B/  / |
[Verse 3]
    EmAnd watching D/F#lovers part ...GI feel you B7smiling,
    EmWhat glass D/F#splinters lie so Gdeep in your B7mind?
    EmTo tear out D/F#from your eyes,
With a Gthought to stiffen B7brooding lies,
   EmAnd I'll only D/F#watch you leave me Gfurther be - B7hind
[Chorus]
And the Gsun drips down bedding B7heavy behind,
The Emfront of your dress all B7shadowy lined,
The Gdroning engine B7throbs in time... 
With Emyour beating B7heart
[Chorus]
And the Gsun drips down bedding B7heavy behind,
The Emfront of your dress all B7shadowy lined,
The Gdroning engine B7throbs in time...
With Emyour beating BheartB7  
[Bridge]
    CSing---C7/Bb----- ...blue Bsilver---!B7  
    CSing,  C7/Bbsing  ...blue Bsilver-----B7--!
[Ocarina Coda - Repeat progression]
| Em/  /  D/F#/  / | G/  /  B7/  / | Em/  /  D/F#/  / | G/  /  B7/  / |
Ending
|  Em/  /  D/F#/  /  |  G/  /  B/  / ||

All chords in this song (10)

The story behind the song

"The Chauffeur" began as a poem by Simon Le Bon before he joined Duran Duran, later shaped into this electronic track for the Rio album. The lyrics are abstract and impressionistic, painting a series of vivid images like "the glides are moving" and "the front of your dress all shadowy lined," with some seeing it as a story of obsession. Its sound is notably haunting and unconventional for the band, built on synthesizers and drum machines, creating a sparse soundscape that feels both ghostly and intimate. At its heart, it plays like a dream sequence, inviting you to inhabit its mysterious atmosphere.

AI-written from these sources:The Chauffeur — Wikipedia ↗Duran Duran — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

The Chauffeur

The Chauffeur

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Chord Book

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The Chauffeur

by Duran Duran

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

B7/D#

G/D

C7/Bb

D/F#

FINE TUNING:

The original 'Rio' album track is slightly flat of

standard pitch

Alternatively, play along with a live version,

IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website

options for a particular chord progression. Just use

Em = 022000 G/D = xx0003 C = x32010

D = xx0232 B = x24442 C7/Bb = x12010

G = 320033 B7 = x21202 D/F# = 20023x

B7/D# = xx1202

^ = Emphasise the beats

[Fade-in]

G B7/D#

() ()

| / / / / |

[Intro]

Em D G B7/D# Em D G B7/D#

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

Em D G B7/D#

| / / / / | / / / / |

[Verse 1]

Em D G B7/D#

Out on the tar plains ...the glides are moving,

Em D G B7/D#

All looking for a new place to drive,

Em D G B7/D#

You sit be - side me, ...so newly charming,

Em D G B7/D#

Sweating dewdrops glisten fresh in your side

[Chorus]

G/D B7/D#

And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind,

Em B7/D#

The front of your dress all shadowy lined,

G/D B7/D#

The droning engine throbs in time...

Em B7/D# G/D B7/D# Em B7/D#

With your beating heart | / / / / | / / / / |

G/D B7/D# Em D B B7

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / |

[Verse 2]

Em D

Way down the lane a way,

G B7/D#

Living for a - nother day,

Em D G B7/D#

The aphids climb up in the ...drifting haze,

Em D

Swim seagull in the sky...

G B7/D#

To - wards that hollow western isle,

Em D G B7/D#

My envied lady holds you fast in her gaze

[Chorus]

G/D B7/D#

And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind,

Em B7/D#

The front of your dress all shadowy lined,

G/D B7/D#

The droning engine throbs in time...

Em B7/D#

With your beating heart

[Chorus]

G/D B7/D#

And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind,

Em B7/D#

The front of your dress all shadowy lined,

G/D B7/D#

The droning engine throbs in time...

Em B B7

With your beating heart

[Bridge]

C C7/Bb B B7 B7/D#

Sing------- blue silver | / / /_/ /_/ |

^ ^ ^

Em D/F# G B Em D/F# G B

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

[Verse 3]

Em D/F# G B7

And watching lovers part ...I feel you smiling,

Em D/F# G B7

What glass splinters lie so deep in your mind?

Em D/F#

To tear out from your eyes,

G B7

With a thought to stiffen brooding lies,

Em D/F# G B7

And I'll only watch you leave me further be - hind

[Chorus]

G B7

And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind,

Em B7

The front of your dress all shadowy lined,

G B7

The droning engine throbs in time...

Em B7

With your beating heart

[Chorus]

G B7

And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind,

Em B7

The front of your dress all shadowy lined,

G B7

The droning engine throbs in time...

Em B B7

With your beating heart

[Bridge]

C C7/Bb B B7

Sing-------- ...blue silver---!

C C7/Bb B B7

Sing, sing ...blue silver-------!

[Ocarina Coda - Repeat progression]

Em D/F# G B7 Em D/F# G B7

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

Ending

Em D/F# G B

| / / / / | / / / / ||

About The Chauffeur Chords by Duran Duran

Learn how to play The Chauffeur by Duran Duran with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Chauffeur chords”, “The Chauffeur guitar chords”, or “Duran Duran The Chauffeur 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 Chauffeur chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Chauffeur lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, G/D, C, D, B, C7/Bb.

FAQ — The Chauffeur by Duran Duran

How do I play "The Chauffeur" by Duran Duran on guitar?

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Can I transpose "The Chauffeur" to a different key?

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

Is "The Chauffeur" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Chauffeur" by Duran Duran with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Duran Duran below.

What key is "The Chauffeur" in?

The chords for "The Chauffeur" show the original chord names (including Em, G/D, C, D, B, C7/Bb). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.