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The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

Chords

4.992 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

FINE TUNING:
standard tuning. 
Regarding the CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS please follow the
D     = xx0232   Em      = 022000   G/B  = x20033
D/F#  = xx4232   F       = 133211   Am7  = x02010
G     = 320033   C       = x32010   Bm   = x24432
Cadd9 = x32033   Cadd9 * = x32030   Em/B = x22000
Am    = x02210   Cmaj7   = x32000   D/A  = x00232
C/G   = 332010
^  = Emphasise the beats
[Intro]
| /  /__D/   D/F#/__/   D   D/F#/  |
|  G/   /   Cadd9/    /   G|  Am/  /__D/   D/F#/__/  D   D/F#/  |
DGee, dee, Cadd9dee - Gdee!|  Am/  /__D/   D/F#/__/  D   D/F#/  |
|  C/G/  /  /  /  |  Em/  /  /  /  |
[Verse 1]
FThis here, is the place where I will be Cstaying,
  C   Cadd9*    Cmaj7          C  F  
                      There isn't a number,
You can Fcall the pay-phone,
             C       C   Cadd9*    Cmaj7      C  F  
Let it ring a long, long,    long,  long time,
If FI don't pick-up, ...hang up, ...Amcall back,
                       C     F     C    C   Cadd9*   Cmaj7  C  
Let it ring some more!  Oh----!
If FI don't pick-up, ...pick-up,
The sidewinder Amsleep, sleep, sleeps in a Ccoil!C  
                                         ^    ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
  ^               ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)  C/GOh----!Em  
 ^                ^      ^
[Verse 2]
There are Fscratches all around the coin slot,
                       C      C   Cadd9*   Cmaj7      C  F  
Like a heartbeat, baby, try - ing     to    wake up,
But this machine can only Cswallow money,
You can't lay a patch by com - Fputer design,
It's just a lot of Amstupid, stupid Csigns,
          F        C    C   Cadd9*    Cmaj7  C  
Tell her-------,
FTell---- her she can kiss my Cass, then laugh,
       C   Cadd9*   Cmaj7      C  F  
And say that     you   were only kidding,
That Fway, she'll know that it's Amreally, really,
Really, really Cme, ...Cme!
               ^      ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)  C/GOh----!Em  
 ^                ^      ^
[Verse 3]
FBaby, instant soup doesn't really grab me,
                              C        C   Cadd9*
To - day I need something more sub... sub...
Cmaj7Sub ...Csub - Fstantial,
A Fcan of beans, or black-eyed peas,
                C     C   Cadd9*    Cmaj7  C  
Some Nescafe and ice,
A Fcandy bar, a fallen star,
Or a Amreading from Doctor CSuess!C  
                         ^     ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
  ^               ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)  C/GOh----!Em  
 ^                ^      ^
[Bridge]
     BmThe Cat in the Hat came back,
AmWreaked a lot of havoc on the Bmway,
Always had a smile and a reason Amto pretend,
But their world  Bm...has flat backgrounds,
And little Amneed to sleep,
But to Cdream the sidewinder Emsleeps on his Emback
                            ^             ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
 ^               ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DI can al - Dways sleep Gstanding up!
^          ^          ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)  C/GOh----!  Em^   Em^
 ^                ^      ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
 DI can al - Dways sleep Gstanding up!
 ^          ^          ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)  C/GOh----!  Em^   Em^
 ^                ^      ^
[Chorus]
DCall me when you Dtry to Gwake her up,
^                ^      ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DI can al - Dways sleep Gstanding up!
^          ^          ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
DI can al - Dways sleep Gstanding up!
^          ^          ^
(Cadd9Call me when you G/Btry to Am7wake her!)
 ^                ^      ^
[Coda]
   CYou got a boogie-boogie Em/Bgroove on D/Athis one!
                           ^      ^   ^   ^
=====================================================
For the chord box diagrams to better match my
D/F#  <3 of 20>    Cadd9  <2 of 10>
G     <2 of 27>    G/B    <2 of 21>
All the other chord boxes should be the default

All chords in this song (15)

The story behind the song

"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" was included on the album Automatic for the People to offer a lighter moment amidst the record's themes of mortality, the passage of time, suicide, and family. The song itself was influenced by "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," even sharing a similar opening refrain. It brings a playful energy designed to break the prevailing mood of its album. Playing it feels like a moment of bright, unexpected whimsy.

AI-written from these sources:The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite — Wikipedia ↗R.E.M. — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

by R.E.M.

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D/F#

Cadd9

C/G

Cmaj7

G/B

Am7

Em/B

D/A

FINE TUNING:

standard tuning.

Regarding the CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS please follow the

D = xx0232 Em = 022000 G/B = x20033

D/F# = xx4232 F = 133211 Am7 = x02010

G = 320033 C = x32010 Bm = x24432

Cadd9 = x32033 Cadd9 * = x32030 Em/B = x22000

Am = x02210 Cmaj7 = x32000 D/A = x00232

C/G = 332010

^ = Emphasise the beats

[Intro]

D D/F# D D/F#

| / /__/ /__/ / |

G Cadd9 G Am D D/F# D D/F#

| / / / / | / /__/ /__/ / |

G Cadd9 G Am D D/F# D D/F#

Dee, dee, dee - dee!| / /__/ /__/ / |

C/G Em

| / / / / | / / / / |

[Verse 1]

F C

This here, is the place where I will be staying,

C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C F

There isn't a number,

You can call the pay-phone,

C C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C F

Let it ring a long, long, long, long time,

F Am

If I don't pick-up, ...hang up, ...call back,

C F C C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C

Let it ring some more! Oh----!

If I don't pick-up, ...pick-up,

Am C C

The sidewinder sleep, sleep, sleeps in a coil!

^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7 C/G Em

(Call me when you try to wake her!) Oh----!

^ ^ ^

[Verse 2]

There are scratches all around the coin slot,

C C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C F

Like a heartbeat, baby, try - ing to wake up,

But this machine can only swallow money,

You can't lay a patch by com - puter design,

Am C

It's just a lot of stupid, stupid signs,

F C C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C

Tell her-------,

F C

Tell---- her she can kiss my ass, then laugh,

C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C F

And say that you were only kidding,

F Am

That way, she'll know that it's really, really,

C C

Really, really me, ...me!

^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7 C/G Em

(Call me when you try to wake her!) Oh----!

^ ^ ^

[Verse 3]

Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me,

C C Cadd9

To - day I need something more sub... sub...

Cmaj7 C F

Sub ...sub - stantial,

A can of beans, or black-eyed peas,

C C Cadd9 Cmaj7 C

Some Nescafe and ice,

A candy bar, a fallen star,

Am C C

Or a reading from Doctor Suess!

^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7 C/G Em

(Call me when you try to wake her!) Oh----!

^ ^ ^

[Bridge]

The Cat in the Hat came back,

Am Bm

Wreaked a lot of havoc on the way,

Always had a smile and a reason to pretend,

But their world ...has flat backgrounds,

And little need to sleep,

C Em Em

But to dream the sidewinder sleeps on his back

^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

I can al - ways sleep standing up!

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7 C/G Em Em

(Call me when you try to wake her!) Oh----! ^ ^

^ ^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

I can al - ways sleep standing up!

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7 C/G Em Em

(Call me when you try to wake her!) Oh----! ^ ^

^ ^ ^

[Chorus]

D D G

Call me when you try to wake her up,

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

I can al - ways sleep standing up!

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

D D G

I can al - ways sleep standing up!

^ ^ ^

Cadd9 G/B Am7

(Call me when you try to wake her!)

^ ^ ^

[Coda]

C Em/B D/A

You got a boogie-boogie groove on this one!

^ ^ ^ ^

=====================================================

For the chord box diagrams to better match my

D/F# <3 of 20> Cadd9 <2 of 10>

G <2 of 27> G/B <2 of 21>

All the other chord boxes should be the default

About The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Chords by R.E.M.

Learn how to play The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite by R.E.M. with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite chords”, “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite guitar chords”, or “R.E.M. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite 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 Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Em, G/B, D/F, F, G.

FAQ — The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite by R.E.M.

How do I play "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" by R.E.M. on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" by R.E.M. 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.

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Can I transpose "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"?

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

Is "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" by R.E.M. with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by R.E.M. below.

What key is "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" in?

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