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Heroin

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THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
Heroin
Tuning: EbAbDbGbBbEb
Riff 1:
Eb|-D2-------2---2-G|-3-------3---D--|-2-----3-2-G--2-|-3-------3---0-|
Bb|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
Gb|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
Db|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
Ab|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
Eb|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
Riff 2:
Eb|-2----7----9---7----|
Bb|-3----8----10--8----|        Listen to the song to get the timing for
Gb|-2----7----9---7----|        this part - it isn't broken up into bars
Db|-0------------------|        here.
Ab|--------------------|
Eb|--------------------|
Riff 1 x2
[Verse]
   DI  Gdon't Dknow  Gjust Dwhere I'm GgoingD  G  
    D        G         D           G            D ---- end of riff 1, strum
But    I'm       gonna try for the kingdom if I can    this chord, and the
                G               D                      rest of the chords
Cos it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a Gspike into my Dvein
And I tell ya Gthings aren't quite the Dsame          when you hit the word
         G             D                            "know" at the end of the
When I'm rushing on my run                        verse, the D chord marks the
      G                     D                    beginning of riff 1 again,
And I feel just like Jesus' son                 which contintues until the
[Chorus]
      G                       D                 "nullify" in the next verse.
And I guess that I just don't know              this pattern continues thru
                              G        D       G         D        Gthe whole song.
And I guess that I just don't know
[Verse]
DI         Ghave Dmade Ga  big deDcisionG  D  
DI'm      Ggonna Dtry     Gto nulliDfy my life
Cos when the Gblood begins to Dflow
And it Gshoots up the dropper's Dneck
When I'm Gclosing in on Ddeath
Riff 2 x2
You can't Ghelp me not you Dguys
Oh, all you sweet Ggirls with all your sweet Dtalk
You can Gall go take a Dwalk
[Chorus]
And I Gguess that I just don't Dknow
And I Gguess that I just don't DknowG  D  G  
[Verse]
DI       Gwish Dthat    GI was bDorn a thousand yGears agoD  G  
DI       Gwish Dthat    GI'd sailed the darkDened seas
On a Ggreat big clipper Dship
Going from Gthis land here to Dthat
Oh, in a Gsailor's suit and Dcap
Riff 2 x2
Away Gfrom the big Dcity
Where a Gman can not be Dfree
Of all the Gevils of this Dtown
And of himGself and those aDround
[Chorus]
Oh, and I Gguess that I just don't Dknow
Oh, and I Gguess that I just don't DknowG  D  G  
[Verse]
DHer_G____Doin,   Git'll be tDhe death of GmeD  G  
DHer_G____Doin,   Git's Dmy wife, and it'Gs my life
Because a Gmainline in my Dvein
Leads to a Gcenter in my Dhead
And then I'm Gbetter off as Ddead
Riff 2 x4
Cos when the Gsmack begins to Dflow
Oh, I Greally don't care anyDmore
'Bout all the Gjim-jims in this Dtown
And all the poliGticians making crazy Dsounds
And everybody Gputtin' everybody else Ddown
And all the dead Gbodies piled up in DNam
Riff 2 x4
Cos when the Gsmack begins to Dflow
And I Greally don't care anyDmore
Riff 2 x2
When that heroGin is in my Dblood
And the Gblood is in my Dhead
Then I thank GGod that I'm as good as Ddead
And thank your GGod that I'm not aDware
And thank GGod that I just don't Dcare
And I Gguess that I just don't Dknow
And I Gguess that I just don't DknowG  D  G  
Riff 1 x2
F arpeggio

All chords in this song (2)

The story behind the song

"Heroin" plunges into the dark, raw experience of drug use, depicting its effects with an unflinching gaze. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song doesn't shy away from the pull of the drug, nor does it explicitly condemn it, creating a troubling ambiguity that made it a powerful statement. It speaks to a feeling of detachment from the "evils of this town" and the sweet talk that tries to pull one back, finding a strange solace in simply not caring. The Velvet Underground released this celebrated composition on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. Playing it feels like stepping into a stark, unvarnished moment of surrender.

AI-written from these sources:Heroin (The Velvet Underground song) — Wikipedia ↗The Velvet Underground — Wikipedia ↗

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Heroin

by The Velvet Underground

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

Heroin

Tuning: EbAbDbGbBbEb

Riff 1:

D G D G

Eb|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|

Bb|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|

Gb|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|

Db|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|

Ab|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|

Eb|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|

Riff 2:

Eb|-2----7----9---7----|

Bb|-3----8----10--8----| Listen to the song to get the timing for

Gb|-2----7----9---7----| this part - it isn't broken up into bars

Db|-0------------------| here.

Ab|--------------------|

Eb|--------------------|

Riff 1 x2

[Verse]

D G D G D G D G

I don't know just where I'm going

D G D G D ---- end of riff 1, strum

But I'm gonna try for the kingdom if I can this chord, and the

G D rest of the chords

Cos it makes me feel like I'm a man

G D

When I put a spike into my vein

G D

And I tell ya things aren't quite the same when you hit the word

G D "know" at the end of the

When I'm rushing on my run verse, the D chord marks the

G D beginning of riff 1 again,

And I feel just like Jesus' son which contintues until the

[Chorus]

G D "nullify" in the next verse.

And I guess that I just don't know this pattern continues thru

G D G D G

the whole song.

And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]

D G D G D G D

I have made a big decision

D G D G D

I'm gonna try to nullify my life

G D

Cos when the blood begins to flow

G D

And it shoots up the dropper's neck

G D

When I'm closing in on death

Riff 2 x2

G D

You can't help me not you guys

G D

Oh, all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk

G D

You can all go take a walk

[Chorus]

G D

And I guess that I just don't know

G D G D G

And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]

D G D G D G D G

I wish that I was born a thousand years ago

D G D G D

I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas

G D

On a great big clipper ship

G D

Going from this land here to that

G D

Oh, in a sailor's suit and cap

Riff 2 x2

G D

Away from the big city

G D

Where a man can not be free

G D

Of all the evils of this town

G D

And of himself and those around

[Chorus]

G D

Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

G D G D G

Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]

D G D G D G D G

Her_____oin, it'll be the death of me

D G D G D G

Her_____oin, it's my wife, and it's my life

G D

Because a mainline in my vein

G D

Leads to a center in my head

G D

And then I'm better off as dead

Riff 2 x4

G D

Cos when the smack begins to flow

G D

Oh, I really don't care anymore

G D

'Bout all the jim-jims in this town

G D

And all the politicians making crazy sounds

G D

And everybody puttin' everybody else down

G D

And all the dead bodies piled up in Nam

Riff 2 x4

G D

Cos when the smack begins to flow

G D

And I really don't care anymore

Riff 2 x2

G D

When that heroin is in my blood

G D

And the blood is in my head

G D

Then I thank God that I'm as good as dead

G D

And thank your God that I'm not aware

G D

And thank God that I just don't care

G D

And I guess that I just don't know

G D G D G

And I guess that I just don't know

Riff 1 x2

F arpeggio

About Heroin Chords by The Velvet Underground

Learn how to play Heroin by The Velvet Underground with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Heroin chords”, “Heroin guitar chords”, or “The Velvet Underground Heroin 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 Heroin chords and for experienced players who want accurate Heroin lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, Eb, Bb, Gb, Db.

FAQ — Heroin by The Velvet Underground

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The chords for "Heroin" show the original chord names (including D, G, Eb, Bb, Gb, Db). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.