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The Only Mistake

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/57

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 57Position: 5

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Recorded in April 1979 at Strawberry Studios during "Unknown Pleasures" sessions.
Album: Still (1981)
[Chords]
   Dxx0232       D5x577xx
   E022100       E5x799xx
   F133211       F5x8-10-10xx
   G355433       G5x10-12-12xx
   Ax02220
[Intro]
(drums)
(riff bass) x6
e|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
B|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
A|-5--5--5--5--5--5-|-7--7--7--7--7--7-|-8--8--8--8--8--8-|-10--10-10-10--10--10--10-|
E|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|
[Verse 1] 0’44”
 DMade the fatal mistEake,F  G  
 DLike I did once befEore,F  G  
 DA tendency just to Etake,F  G  
 DTill the purpose tuErned sour,F  G  
(Break)
[Chorus] 1’11”
DStrain, take the strain,
AThese days,   we love,
DStrain, take the strain,
AThese days,   we love.
(riff bass) x2
[Verse 2] 1’44”
 DYeah, the only mistEake,F  G  
 DWas that you ran awEay,F  G  
 DAvenues lined with tErees,F  G  
 DStrangled words for the Eday,F  G  
[Verse 3] 2’06”
  D5Yeah, the only misE5take,F5  G5  
  D5Like I made once beE5fore,F5  G5  
  D5Yeah, the only misE5take,F5  G5  
  D5Could have made it beE5fore.F5  G5  
(break)
[Chorus] 2’36”
DStrain, take the strain,
AThese days,   we love,
DStrain, take the strain,
AThese days,   we love.
(bass)
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-0-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-0-|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[Verse 4] 3’09”
 DAnd the only misEtake,F  G  
 DLed to rumors unEfounded,F  G  
 DLed to pressures unEknown,F  G  
 DDifferent feelings and Esounds,F  G  
 DYeah the only misEtake,F  G  
 DLike I made once beEfore,F  G  
 D5Yeah, the only misE5take,F5  G5  
 D5Could have made it beE5fore.F5  G5  
[Outro]
D5                    E5         F5         G5

All chords in this song (9)

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The Only Mistake

by Joy Division

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Recorded in April 1979 at Strawberry Studios during "Unknown Pleasures" sessions.

Album: Still (1981)

[Chords]

D D5

xx0232 x577xx

E E5

022100 x799xx

F F5

133211 x8-10-10xx

G G5

355433 x10-12-12xx

x02220

[Intro]

(drums)

(riff bass) x6

e|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|

B|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|

G|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|

D|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|

A|-5--5--5--5--5--5-|-7--7--7--7--7--7-|-8--8--8--8--8--8-|-10--10-10-10--10--10--10-|

E|------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------|

[Verse 1] 0’44”

D E F G

Made the fatal mistake,

D E F G

Like I did once before,

D E F G

A tendency just to take,

D E F G

Till the purpose turned sour,

(Break)

[Chorus] 1’11”

Strain, take the strain,

These days, we love,

Strain, take the strain,

These days, we love.

(riff bass) x2

[Verse 2] 1’44”

D E F G

Yeah, the only mistake,

D E F G

Was that you ran away,

D E F G

Avenues lined with trees,

D E F G

Strangled words for the day,

[Verse 3] 2’06”

D5 E5 F5 G5

Yeah, the only mistake,

D5 E5 F5 G5

Like I made once before,

D5 E5 F5 G5

Yeah, the only mistake,

D5 E5 F5 G5

Could have made it before.

(break)

[Chorus] 2’36”

Strain, take the strain,

These days, we love,

Strain, take the strain,

These days, we love.

(bass)

e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

A|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-0-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-0-|

E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

[Verse 4] 3’09”

D E F G

And the only mistake,

D E F G

Led to rumors unfounded,

D E F G

Led to pressures unknown,

D E F G

Different feelings and sounds,

D E F G

Yeah the only mistake,

D E F G

Like I made once before,

D5 E5 F5 G5

Yeah, the only mistake,

D5 E5 F5 G5

Could have made it before.

[Outro]

D5 E5 F5 G5

About The Only Mistake Chords by Joy Division

Learn how to play The Only Mistake by Joy Division with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Only Mistake chords”, “The Only Mistake guitar chords”, or “Joy Division The Only Mistake 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 Only Mistake chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Only Mistake lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, D5, E, E5, F, F5.

FAQ — The Only Mistake by Joy Division

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The chords for "The Only Mistake" show the original chord names (including D, D5, E, E5, F, F5). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.