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Been A Son

Chords

4.619 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
 D5   C   B   A   D5   C   B   A   D(x2)
[Verse]
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5stayed awaCy fBrom AfDriends
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5had more timCe Bto AsDpend
  D5SChe sBhould Ahave D5died when shCe wBas AboDrn
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5worn the crowCn oBf  AthDorns
  D5SChe Bshould AhaveD  
[Chorus]
   G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5sonC  B  A  D  
[Verse]
  D5SChe shoBuld hAave sD5tood out in Ca   B   AcrDowd
  D5SChe shoBuld Ahave D5made her moCther   B   AproDud
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5fallen on ChBer  A  Dstance
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5had anotCher   B   AchDance
  D5SChe Bshould AhaveD  
[Chorus]
   G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5sonC  B  A  D  
[Solo]
 D5   C   B   A   D5   C   B   A   D(x2)
[Chorus]
   G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5sonC  B  A  D  
[Verse]
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5stayed awaCy fBrom AfDriends
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5had more timCe Bto AsDpend
  D5SChe sBhould Ahave D5died when shCe wBas AboDrn
  D5SChe shBould Ahave D5worn the crowCn oBf  AthDorns
  D5SChe Bshould AhaveD  
[Chorus]
   G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5son
SChe shBould Ahave   D     G5  F5been a E5sonC  B  A  D  

All chords in this song (8)

The story behind the song

"Been A Son" delves into themes of sex and gender, offering an early commentary on these issues. The song tells the story of a girl whose parents wished for a boy, highlighting how patriarchy often views women as second-class citizens and dictates what they "should be." It plays like an anthem for recognizing and pushing against societal expectations placed on women.

AI-written from these sources:Been a Son — Wikipedia ↗Nirvana (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

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

Been A Son

by Nirvana

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

(x2)

[Verse]

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have stayed away from friends

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have had more time to spend

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have died when she was born

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have worn the crown of thorns

D5 C B A D

She should have

[Chorus]

G5 F5 E5

been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5 C B A D

She should have been a son

[Verse]

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have stood out in a crowd

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have made her mother proud

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have fallen on her stance

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have had another chance

D5 C B A D

She should have

[Chorus]

G5 F5 E5

been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5 C B A D

She should have been a son

[Solo]

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

(x2)

[Chorus]

G5 F5 E5

been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5 C B A D

She should have been a son

[Verse]

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have stayed away from friends

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have had more time to spend

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have died when she was born

D5 C B A D5 C B A D

She should have worn the crown of thorns

D5 C B A D

She should have

[Chorus]

G5 F5 E5

been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5

She should have been a son

C B A D G5 F5 E5 C B A D

She should have been a son

About Been A Son Chords by Nirvana

Learn how to play Been A Son by Nirvana with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Been A Son chords”, “Been A Son guitar chords”, or “Nirvana Been A Son 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 Been A Son chords and for experienced players who want accurate Been A Son lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D5, C, B, A, D, G5.

FAQ — Been A Son by Nirvana

How do I play "Been A Son" by Nirvana on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Been A Son" by Nirvana 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 "Been A Son" by Nirvana free?

Yes. The chords for "Been A Son" by Nirvana are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Been A Son" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Been A Son"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Been A Son" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Been A Son" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Been A Son" by Nirvana with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Nirvana below.

What key is "Been A Son" in?

The chords for "Been A Son" show the original chord names (including D5, C, B, A, D, G5). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.