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Tough

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Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
Em  D  C   Em  D  C
EmYou think you're tough with your bass speakers Ckicking in the back 
DAnd your triple X lyrics blaring from your puke green EmCadillac 
EmYou've got your bling bling on And your tattoos running up and Cdown your arms 
DAh ain't you bad with the seat of your britches hanging Emdown that far
DHey. I hate to break it to you punk But Call that stuff
Dain't got a thing to do with being Ctough
Cause Emtough is your Dfingers bleeding 
It's a Chundred degrees and you're Dgettin up hay
EmTough is your Dold man yelling 
Get up Cout of that bed at the break of Dday 
Am7Keeping on going when you kCM9now you've had eCnough
That's EmtoughD  C  
EmIt might seem that I'm comin down a little Chard on you 
DBut you think you're a man and you still gotta lot of growin Emup to do 
EmI bet you talk a big game when you're hangin' with your boys in Csome pool hall 
DBut I wonder how you'd act if you ever had your back up aEmgainst the wall 
DYeah I'm sure those joints you hang out in get Cpretty rough 
DBut you've got a lot to learn about being Ctough
Cause Emtough is a Dsingle mom
Cworkin three jobs so her Dkids can eat
EmTough is reading Dbed time stories 
Cwhen your body's begging you to Dgo to sleep 
AmGiven all you've gCM9ot for what you lCove 
That's EmtoughD  C  
DSee it wasn't very long ago My little brother was Cabout your age 
DHe joined the Corp and before we knew it they Cshipped him away 
CSo far away 
And Emtough is a Dmomma cryin
Cwaving goodbye as her Dbaby leaves
EmTough is a Dteenage soldier
Con the front lines fighting just to Dkeep you free
Am7Prayin for one more dCM9ay from God abCove 
That's EmtoughD  C  
Son that's Emtough D  C  
(SpokenEm) Pull yDour Cbritches up boy! 
(SpokenEm) Take a DlitCtle pride in yourself

All chords in this song (6)

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Tough

by Justin McBride

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

CM9

[Intro]

Em D C Em D C

Em C

You think you're tough with your bass speakers kicking in the back

D Em

And your triple X lyrics blaring from your puke green Cadillac

Em C

You've got your bling bling on And your tattoos running up and down your arms

D Em

Ah ain't you bad with the seat of your britches hanging down that far

D C

Hey. I hate to break it to you punk But all that stuff

D C

ain't got a thing to do with being tough

Em D

Cause tough is your fingers bleeding

C D

It's a hundred degrees and you're gettin up hay

Em D

Tough is your old man yelling

C D

Get up out of that bed at the break of day

Am7 CM9 C

Keeping on going when you know you've had enough

Em D C

That's tough

Em C

It might seem that I'm comin down a little hard on you

D Em

But you think you're a man and you still gotta lot of growin up to do

Em C

I bet you talk a big game when you're hangin' with your boys in some pool hall

D Em

But I wonder how you'd act if you ever had your back up against the wall

D C

Yeah I'm sure those joints you hang out in get pretty rough

D C

But you've got a lot to learn about being tough

Em D

Cause tough is a single mom

C D

workin three jobs so her kids can eat

Em D

Tough is reading bed time stories

C D

when your body's begging you to go to sleep

Am CM9 C

Given all you've got for what you love

Em D C

That's tough

D C

See it wasn't very long ago My little brother was about your age

D C

He joined the Corp and before we knew it they shipped him away

So far away

Em D

And tough is a momma cryin

C D

waving goodbye as her baby leaves

Em D

Tough is a teenage soldier

C D

on the front lines fighting just to keep you free

Am7 CM9 C

Prayin for one more day from God above

Em D C

That's tough

Em D C

Son that's tough

Em D C

(Spoken) Pull your britches up boy!

Em D C

(Spoken) Take a little pride in yourself

About Tough Chords by Justin McBride

Learn how to play Tough by Justin McBride with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tough chords”, “Tough guitar chords”, or “Justin McBride Tough 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 Tough chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tough lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, C, Am7, CM9, Am.

FAQ — Tough by Justin McBride

How do I play "Tough" by Justin McBride on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Tough" by Justin McBride 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 "Tough" by Justin McBride free?

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Can I transpose "Tough" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Tough"?

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

Is "Tough" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "Tough" in?

The chords for "Tough" show the original chord names (including Em, D, C, Am7, CM9, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.