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I Take My Chances

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/52

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 52Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

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(Actually in C, so capo at the 5th fret; each chord is half a measure.)
[Intro]
G  D  C  C    G  D  C  C
[Verse 1]
 GI took a wDalk in the rEmain one dCay
On the wrGong side oDf the trCacksC  
I stGood on the rDails till I Emsaw that tCrain
Just to sGee how my heDart would reCactC  
Now sEmome people Bmsay that you shCouldn't tempt fCate
And for tEmhem I can Dnot disagrCeeC  
But I nGever learned noDthing from plEmaying it sCafe
I say fGate should G/Bnot tempt Cme
[Chorus]
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
I don't mind wGorking withoDut a nCet
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
  (C)                   G          D     C  C  
I take my chances every chance I get
[Verse 2]
 GI sat alDone in the dEmark one nCight,
 Gtuning Din by remCoteC  
 GI found a pDreacher who sEmpoke of the ligCht
but there was brGimstone Din his thrCoatC  
He'd sEmhow me the Bmway accCording to hCim
in retEmurn for my peDrsonal chCeckC  
 GI flipped the cDhannel back to EmCNCN,
and I lGit another G/BcigareCtte
[Chorus]
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
(C)                     G               D  C  
yes, forgiveness doesn't come with a debt
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
(C)                      G         D  C  
I take my chances every chance I get
[Guitar Solo]
G  D  C  C    G  D  C  C
G  D  C  C    G  D  C  C
 GI've crossed lDines of woEmrds and wCire,
and Gboth have Dcut me CdeepC  
I've been fGrozen oDut and I've bEmeen on fCire,
and the Gtears are Dmine to CweepC  
But EmI can Bmcry untCil I lauCgh,
or lEmaugh untDil I cCryC  
So cGut the dDeck riEmght in haClf,
GI'll play from eG/Bither Cside
[Chorus]
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
  (C)                 G          D  C  
I pay my dollar and I place my bet
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
  (C)                    G         D  C  
I take my chances every chance I get
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
(C)                       G           D  C  
yeah, I don't cling to remorse or regret
  (C)             G    D  C  
I take my chances;
  (C)                    G        D  C  
I take my chances every chance I get
  (C)             G    D    C  C  
I take my chances;
(Repeat G D C C; end on G.)
[Concert ad-lib lyrics:]
  No remorse, no regrets
  I chewed another Nicorette
  I ordered up some crepes Suzette
  I found Elvis on the Internet
  I went camping with a young cadet
  He showed me his bayonet
  I looked at him and said, "you should get an Erector set"
  Who needs a boyfriend, you can get a pet
The electric guitar actually plays this in C with no capo.  These are the
e|-C----0---G--------|F----------------|C--------G--------|F----------------|
B|---1-----3-----1-|------1---------|----1---0-------|----------------|
G|-0---------4-----|--2-------0---0-|--0-------0---2-|------0---------|
D|-------------5---|----3-------3---|2-----------0---|--3-------3---3-|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----3-------3---|
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
   ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
Here it is in G, if you want to play it with the capo on the 5th fret:
e|-G----7---D5-----3-|C------3---------|G----3---D2-----0-|C----------------|
B|---8-------7-----|--5-------3---3-|--3-------3-----|------3---------|
G|-7-----------7---|----5-------5---|4-----------2---|--5-------5--5--|
D|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----5-------5---|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
   ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .  ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

"I Take My Chances" is a song about embracing life's unpredictable journey with an open heart. It speaks to a spirit that walks through the rain, unafraid to face what comes, choosing not to cling to remorse or regret. The lyrics suggest a person who doesn't let others dictate their path, but instead trusts their own resilience. Co-written by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Don Schlitz, this song was released in 1994 as the final single from her highly successful album Come On Come On. It plays like an anthem for self-reliance and the courage to live authentically.

AI-written from these sources:I Take My Chances — Wikipedia ↗Mary Chapin Carpenter — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

I Take My Chances

I Take My Chances

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670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

I Take My Chances

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

G/B

-------------------------------------------------------

(Actually in C, so capo at the 5th fret; each chord is half a measure.)

[Intro]

G D C C G D C C

[Verse 1]

G D Em C

I took a walk in the rain one day

G D C C

On the wrong side of the tracks

G D Em C

I stood on the rails till I saw that train

G D C C

Just to see how my heart would react

Em Bm C C

Now some people say that you shouldn't tempt fate

Em D C C

And for them I can not disagree

G D Em C

But I never learned nothing from playing it safe

G G/B C

I say fate should not tempt me

[Chorus]

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

G D C

I don't mind working without a net

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C C

()

I take my chances every chance I get

[Verse 2]

G D Em C

I sat alone in the dark one night,

G D C C

tuning in by remote

G D Em C

I found a preacher who spoke of the light

G D C C

but there was brimstone in his throat

Em Bm C C

He'd show me the way according to him

Em D C C

in return for my personal check

G D Em C

I flipped the channel back to CNN,

G G/B C

and I lit another cigarette

[Chorus]

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

yes, forgiveness doesn't come with a debt

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

I take my chances every chance I get

[Guitar Solo]

G D C C G D C C

G D Em C

I've crossed lines of words and wire,

G D C C

and both have cut me deep

G D Em C

I've been frozen out and I've been on fire,

G D C C

and the tears are mine to weep

Em Bm C C

But I can cry until I laugh,

Em D C C

or laugh until I cry

G D Em C

So cut the deck right in half,

G G/B C

I'll play from either side

[Chorus]

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

I pay my dollar and I place my bet

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

I take my chances every chance I get

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

yeah, I don't cling to remorse or regret

C G D C

()

I take my chances;

C G D C

()

I take my chances every chance I get

C G D C C

()

I take my chances;

(Repeat G D C C; end on G.)

[Concert ad-lib lyrics:]

No remorse, no regrets

I chewed another Nicorette

I ordered up some crepes Suzette

I found Elvis on the Internet

I went camping with a young cadet

He showed me his bayonet

I looked at him and said, "you should get an Erector set"

Who needs a boyfriend, you can get a pet

The electric guitar actually plays this in C with no capo. These are the

C G F C G F

e|-----0-----------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

B|---1-----3-----1-|------1---------|----1---0-------|----------------|

G|-0---------4-----|--2-------0---0-|--0-------0---2-|------0---------|

D|-------------5---|----3-------3---|2-----------0---|--3-------3---3-|

A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----3-------3---|

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

^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .

Here it is in G, if you want to play it with the capo on the 5th fret:

G D C G D C

e|-----7---5-----3-|------3---------|----3---2-----0-|----------------|

B|---8-------7-----|--5-------3---3-|--3-------3-----|------3---------|

G|-7-----------7---|----5-------5---|4-----------2---|--5-------5--5--|

D|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----5-------5---|

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

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

^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .

About I Take My Chances Chords by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Learn how to play I Take My Chances by Mary Chapin Carpenter with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Take My Chances chords”, “I Take My Chances guitar chords”, or “Mary Chapin Carpenter I Take My Chances 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 I Take My Chances chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Take My Chances lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, D, Em, Bm, G/B.

FAQ — I Take My Chances by Mary Chapin Carpenter

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What key is "I Take My Chances" in?

The chords for "I Take My Chances" show the original chord names (including C, G, D, Em, Bm, G/B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.