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Only A Northern Song

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[Verse 1] [Verse 2] [Chorus 1] [Verse 3] [Chorus 2] [Verse 1] [Verse 3] [Instrumental 2] [Outro]
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Chords used:
A(x02220)
Bm(x24432)
E(022100)
D(xx0232)
G(355433)
C#7(x46464)
F#7(242322)
[Verse 1]
AIf you're listening to this song
You may think the chords are going Bmwrong
But they're Enot
He just wrote it like Dthat.
[Verse 2]
AWhen you're listening late at night
You may think the band are not quite Bmright
But they Eare, they just play it like Dthat
[Chorus 1]
And it Edoesn't really Bm7matter what Gchords C#7I play
What F#7words I say
Or Bmtime of day it F#7is
As it's onDly a ANorthern Esong
[Instrumental 1]
(Played with the Verse rhythm)
A Bm E D
[Chorus 2]
It Edoesn't really Bm7matter what Gclothes C#7I wear
Or F#7how I fare
Or Bmif my hair is F#7brown
When it's onDly a ANorthern Esong.
[Verse 3]
AIf you think the harmony
Is a little dark and out of Bmkey
You're Ecorrect, there's nobody Dthere.
[Instrumental 2]
(Played with the Chorus rhythm)
E Bm G C# F# Bm F#
[Outro]
And I Dtold you there's Ano one Ethere
All chords in this song (10)

The story behind the song

This song is a direct expression of George Harrison's dissatisfaction with his financial situation regarding the Beatles' publishing company, Northern Songs. The lyrics convey his disenchantment that the company retained the copyright for his compositions and that major shareholders profited more from his work than he did. The music itself uses sarcasm and dissonance, with "ill-behaved tones" and "wrong-mode" chords, to reflect this feeling of unease and protest. It's a meta-song, with its subject being the very act of writing for a system he found unfair.

AI-written from these sources:Only a Northern Song — Wikipedia ↗The Beatles — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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About Only A Northern Song Chords by The Beatles

Learn how to play Only A Northern Song by The Beatles with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Only A Northern Song chords”, “Only A Northern Song guitar chords”, or “The Beatles Only A Northern Song 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 Only A Northern Song chords and for experienced players who want accurate Only A Northern Song lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Bm, E, D, G, C#7.

FAQ — Only A Northern Song by The Beatles

How do I play "Only A Northern Song" by The Beatles on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Only A Northern Song" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Only A Northern Song"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Only A Northern Song" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Only A Northern Song" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Only A Northern Song" in?

The chords for "Only A Northern Song" show the original chord names (including A, Bm, E, D, G, C#7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.