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Dead Man Walking

Chords

4.811 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

A video of him playing it on Conan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22ImOPXOnw
Tuned down one step.
[Intro]
    F      Gx2
Alternate lifting the finger off of the low E string.  Listen to the recording to get timing.
[Verse 1] (Basically repeat the intro but without lifting off from the low E):
He swivels his head
Tears his eyes from the screen
As his past puts him back in Atlantic City
There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell
Is it all just human disguise?
As I walk down the aisle
[Chorus]
And I'm Fgone
Now I'm older than mGovies
And I Fknow who's there
When silhouettes Gfall
And I'm Bbgone
Like I'm dancing on Dmangels
And I'm Abgone through the cracks in the Gpast
Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)
Like a dead man walking
[Verse 2]
Three old men dancing under the lamplight
Shaking their sex and their bones
And the boys that we were
An alien nation in therapy
Sliding naked and new
Like a bad tempered child
On a rain slicked street
[Chorus]
And I'm Fgone
Now I'm older than mGovies
And I Fknow who's there
When silhouettes Gfall
And I'm Bbgone
Like I'm dancing on Dmangels
And I'm Abgone through the crack in the Gpast
Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)
Like a dead man walking
Dead man
Dead man
Dead man ...
After this, he does a short instrumental section that I don't really know.
I think it's a chromatic walk up from F.
[Chorus]
And I'm Fgone
Now I'm older than mGovies
And I Fknow who's there
When silhouettes Gfall
And I'm Bbgone
Like I'm dancing on Dmangels
And I'm Abgone through the crack in the Gpast
Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)
Dead man walking
Dead man ...

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

"Dead Man Walking" is David Bowie's homage to the enduring spirit of rock and roll, even as time passes. The lyrics delve into his personal reflections on aging, acknowledging the passage of time while celebrating music that remains vibrant. While originally conceived as a tribute to actress Susan Sarandon, the song also drew inspiration from Neil Young. It blends elements of dance, Latin, and jazz music, featuring atonal piano and sequenced keyboards. At its heart, it plays like a meditation on legacy and the ever-present pulse of rock.

AI-written from these sources:Dead Man Walking (David Bowie song) — Wikipedia ↗David Bowie — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

Dead Man Walking

by David Bowie

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

A video of him playing it on Conan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22ImOPXOnw

Tuned down one step.

[Intro]

F G

Alternate lifting the finger off of the low E string. Listen to the recording to get timing.

[Verse 1] (Basically repeat the intro but without lifting off from the low E):

He swivels his head

Tears his eyes from the screen

As his past puts him back in Atlantic City

There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell

Is it all just human disguise?

As I walk down the aisle

[Chorus]

And I'm gone

Now I'm older than movies

And I know who's there

When silhouettes fall

And I'm gone

Like I'm dancing on angels

Ab G

And I'm gone through the cracks in the past

Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)

Like a dead man walking

[Verse 2]

Three old men dancing under the lamplight

Shaking their sex and their bones

And the boys that we were

An alien nation in therapy

Sliding naked and new

Like a bad tempered child

On a rain slicked street

[Chorus]

And I'm gone

Now I'm older than movies

And I know who's there

When silhouettes fall

And I'm gone

Like I'm dancing on angels

Ab G

And I'm gone through the crack in the past

Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)

Like a dead man walking

Dead man

Dead man ...

After this, he does a short instrumental section that I don't really know.

I think it's a chromatic walk up from F.

[Chorus]

And I'm gone

Now I'm older than movies

And I know who's there

When silhouettes fall

And I'm gone

Like I'm dancing on angels

Ab G

And I'm gone through the crack in the past

Like a dead man walking (repeat intro through this part)

Dead man walking

Dead man ...

About Dead Man Walking Chords by David Bowie

Learn how to play Dead Man Walking by David Bowie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dead Man Walking chords”, “Dead Man Walking guitar chords”, or “David Bowie Dead Man Walking 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 Dead Man Walking chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dead Man Walking lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, F, G, E, Bb, Dm.

FAQ — Dead Man Walking by David Bowie

How do I play "Dead Man Walking" by David Bowie on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Dead Man Walking" by David Bowie 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 "Dead Man Walking" by David Bowie free?

Yes. The chords for "Dead Man Walking" by David Bowie are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Dead Man Walking" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Dead Man Walking" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Dead Man Walking"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Dead Man Walking" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Dead Man Walking" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Dead Man Walking" by David Bowie with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by David Bowie below.

What key is "Dead Man Walking" in?

The chords for "Dead Man Walking" show the original chord names (including A, F, G, E, Bb, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.