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Top Of The Bottom

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90BPM

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1/6

Tempo 80 BPMVol

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Position

Step 1 / 6Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

This little riff appears twice after each chorus. It's based on an open G followed by an open D.
e|-3-------0----2---0--------|
B|-----3----------------3----|
G|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|
[Verse 1]
I started
GPlaying guitar by the town memorial
EmAll my songs were singing editorials
CAnd when I'd done, the sermon on the mountD  
N.C.
I counted my change and put it in my bank account
[Verse 2]
GI didn't want to work at the local abbatoir
EmSo I left home, expanded my repertoire
CI did some gigs, No one booed
DI got free beer and I drank it with gratitude
[Chorus]
COnce I Dstarted I couldn't Gstop
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got fEm/Drom
The Cbottom to the Dtop
G D G D
[Verse 3]
GA businessman with a very young dolly bird
EmTalked through the set, liked what he thought he heard
CDropped some names he claimed to representD  
N.C.
And asked me if I had any management
[Verse 4]
GWell two weeks later, I'm signing on the dotted line
EmOffered some drugs, at first I declined
CLots of parties where the spread's incredible
DBut don't get close 'cause the food's inedible
[Chorus]
CAnd I becDame a spinning tGop
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got fEm/Drom
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
G D G D
[Verse 5]
GI got a sweet deal and I moved to America
EmI fell in love with an heiress called Erica
CStarted out smart, soon got sillyD  
N.C.
I partied by the pool and then arrest for necrophilia
[Verse 6]
GNews travels fast like electricity
EmA bad mug shot, it's good publicity
CI laid low for a month or two
DAnd spent my dough building a recording studio
[Chorus]
CAnd that's Dwhen it all went Gpop
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got fEm/Drom
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
G D G D
[Verse 7]
GThe label and Payola got me in the charts
EmMy new management had me by the private parts
CI went on strike, took the initiative
DForgetting that I didn't have a single thing to bargain with
[Verse 8]
GI lost my nerve, my fall was glorious
EmThe lawsuit was eternal and laborious
CMy new material was only fair to middling
DRome was burning and I did some fiddling
[Chorus]
CAnd finally, DI was Gdropped
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got bEm/Dack from
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
[Verse 9]
GOn the way down people tend to leave you where you fall
EmI tried to stand up but I didn't have the wherewithal
CI nearly died in a cab one day
DSo I swapped my bourbon for a bottle full of Perrier
[Verse 10]
GThere were rumors about my sexuality
EmThe video star, killed by reality
CNext thing I know I'm on my knees
DBegging the camera, "Will you vote me off the island please?"
[Chorus]
CBut the Dworld forgives a Gflop
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got bEm/Dack from
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
[solo]
G Em C D
G Em C D
[Verse 11]
GOh well all that exposure and the phone starts to ring again
EmI experienced the strange urge to sing again
CWell not long ago I was a boy with a dream
DI reacquaint myself with a razor and some shaving cream
[Verse 12]
GLook at me I'm ripe for rediscovery
EmAll I need is Mary to mother me
COn the tenth green I was way over par
DMy partner offered me a tour in Jesus Christ, Superstar
[Chorus]
CAnd that's Dwhen the penny Gdropped
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got bEm/Dack back from
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
[Verse 13]
GWell we toured all over the states of America
EmI got a picture of my son from Erica
CMy parents wrote, "Since you disappeared,
DHard to believe but it's just been one year,"
[Verse 14]
GNow it's back to ale and cakes again
EmI wonder if I'll make the same mistakes again
CI hope that you've enjoyed this tutorial
DThere's another busker who was playing the memorial
[Chorus]
CI'm getting Dbored of talking Gshop
GThatG/F#'s how EmI got bEm/Dack from
The Cbottom to the Dtop of the Gbottom
To the Dtop of the Gbottom
To the Dtop of the Gbottom

All chords in this song (6)

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Top Of The Bottom

by John Wesley Harding

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G/F#

Em/D

This little riff appears twice after each chorus. It's based on an open G followed by an open D.

e|-3-------0----2---0--------|

B|-----3----------------3----|

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

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

A|---------------------------|

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

[Verse 1]

I started

Playing guitar by the town memorial

All my songs were singing editorials

C D

And when I'd done, the sermon on the mount

N.C.

I counted my change and put it in my bank account

[Verse 2]

I didn't want to work at the local abbatoir

So I left home, expanded my repertoire

I did some gigs, No one booed

I got free beer and I drank it with gratitude

[Chorus]

C D G

Once I started I couldn't stop

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got from

C D

The bottom to the top

G D G D

[Verse 3]

A businessman with a very young dolly bird

Talked through the set, liked what he thought he heard

C D

Dropped some names he claimed to represent

N.C.

And asked me if I had any management

[Verse 4]

Well two weeks later, I'm signing on the dotted line

Offered some drugs, at first I declined

Lots of parties where the spread's incredible

But don't get close 'cause the food's inedible

[Chorus]

C D G

And I became a spinning top

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

G D G D

[Verse 5]

I got a sweet deal and I moved to America

I fell in love with an heiress called Erica

C D

Started out smart, soon got silly

N.C.

I partied by the pool and then arrest for necrophilia

[Verse 6]

News travels fast like electricity

A bad mug shot, it's good publicity

I laid low for a month or two

And spent my dough building a recording studio

[Chorus]

C D G

And that's when it all went pop

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

G D G D

[Verse 7]

The label and Payola got me in the charts

My new management had me by the private parts

I went on strike, took the initiative

Forgetting that I didn't have a single thing to bargain with

[Verse 8]

I lost my nerve, my fall was glorious

The lawsuit was eternal and laborious

My new material was only fair to middling

Rome was burning and I did some fiddling

[Chorus]

C D G

And finally, I was dropped

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got back from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

[Verse 9]

On the way down people tend to leave you where you fall

I tried to stand up but I didn't have the wherewithal

I nearly died in a cab one day

So I swapped my bourbon for a bottle full of Perrier

[Verse 10]

There were rumors about my sexuality

The video star, killed by reality

Next thing I know I'm on my knees

Begging the camera, "Will you vote me off the island please?"

[Chorus]

C D G

But the world forgives a flop

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got back from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

[solo]

G Em C D

[Verse 11]

Oh well all that exposure and the phone starts to ring again

I experienced the strange urge to sing again

Well not long ago I was a boy with a dream

I reacquaint myself with a razor and some shaving cream

[Verse 12]

Look at me I'm ripe for rediscovery

All I need is Mary to mother me

On the tenth green I was way over par

My partner offered me a tour in Jesus Christ, Superstar

[Chorus]

C D G

And that's when the penny dropped

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got back back from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

[Verse 13]

Well we toured all over the states of America

I got a picture of my son from Erica

My parents wrote, "Since you disappeared,

Hard to believe but it's just been one year,"

[Verse 14]

Now it's back to ale and cakes again

I wonder if I'll make the same mistakes again

I hope that you've enjoyed this tutorial

There's another busker who was playing the memorial

[Chorus]

C D G

I'm getting bored of talking shop

G G/F# Em Em/D

That's how I got back from

C D G

The bottom to the top of the bottom

D G

To the top of the bottom

D G

To the top of the bottom

About Top Of The Bottom Chords by John Wesley Harding

Learn how to play Top Of The Bottom by John Wesley Harding with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Top Of The Bottom chords”, “Top Of The Bottom guitar chords”, or “John Wesley Harding Top Of The Bottom 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 Top Of The Bottom chords and for experienced players who want accurate Top Of The Bottom lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, B, A, E, Em.

FAQ — Top Of The Bottom by John Wesley Harding

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The chords for "Top Of The Bottom" show the original chord names (including G, D, B, A, E, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.