Is Free Chord Book really free?

Yes. Free Chord Book is 100% free with no sign-up required. Access 670,000+ guitar chords, tabs, and lyrics for every song you want to learn.

How do I transpose chords to a different key?

Open any song and use the transpose buttons to move every chord up or down by half-steps. Perfect for singers who need a different key or capo players.

Can I see chord diagrams while I play?

Yes. Tap any chord in a song to instantly see its interactive guitar chord diagram, including alternate fingerings and variations.

What's the difference between guitar chords and guitar tabs?

Chords show you which strings to strum together (great for rhythm playing and singing). Tabs (tablature) show you exact note-by-note fingerings, which is great for solos, riffs, and fingerpicking.

Does Free Chord Book work on mobile?

Yes. Free Chord Book is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. Use auto-scroll to play hands-free. There is also a free iPhone app (The Chord Book) and Android app (Free Chords).

Is there an iPhone or Android app?

Yes. Download The Chord Book on the Apple App Store and Free Chords on Google Play. Same 670,000+ songs, transpose, tuner, and auto-scroll — 100% free.

Can I print guitar chords?

Yes. Open any song and tap the Print button next to Save. You'll get a branded chord sheet with the Chord Book logo, ready for practice.

Is there a built-in guitar tuner?

Yes. Free Chord Book includes a free online guitar tuner that uses your microphone and YIN pitch detection for accurate tuning in standard and alternate tunings.

How many songs are available?

Over 670,000 songs with chords, tabs, and lyrics — covering every genre, from rock and pop to country, indie, folk, and Hebrew songs.

Is Free Chord Book a good alternative to Ultimate Guitar?

Yes. Free Chord Book is a fast, ad-free, 100% free alternative to Ultimate Guitar with interactive chord diagrams, instant transpose, auto-scroll, and a built-in tuner — no account required.

SavedFavorites

When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around

Chords

4.844 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/37

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 37Position: 7

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

      you make the best of what's still around
IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website
option for a particular chord progression. Just use
Main Guitar:
C9sus4 = x-3-3-3-3-3
D9sus4 = x-5-5-5-5-5
Em11   = x-7-5-7-5-5
E5     = x-x-x-x-12-12
Additional 2nd guitar:
(See bottom of document for tablature of this Riff)
C7sus2 = x-x-8-7-8-8
D7sus2 = x-x-10-9-10-10-10
Em11   = x-7-5-7-5-5
[Intro]
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
[Verse 1]
        C9sus4Turn on my VCR,
        D9sus4Same one I've had for years,
        Em11James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show,
        Em11Same tape I've had for years,
        C9sus4I sit in my old car,
        D9sus4Same one I've had for years,
        Em11This old battery's running down,
It Em11ran for years and years
[Verse 2]
        C9sus4Turn on the radio,
        D9sus4Static hurts my ears,
        Em11Tell me, where would I go? 
I Em11ain't been out in years,
        C9sus4Turn on the stereo,
        D9sus4It's played for years and years,
        Em11An Otis Redding song,     Em11...it's all I own
[Chorus]
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around,Em11  
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still aroundEm11  
[Verse 3]
       C9sus4Plug in my M.C.I.    D9sus4...to exercise my brain,
       Em11Make records on my own,
Can't Em11go out in the rain,
        C9sus4Pick up the telephone,
        D9sus4I've listened here for years,
       Em11No one to talk to me,
I've Em11listened here for years
[Chorus]
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around,Em11  
When the C9sus4world is a - running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around     Em11Woh -oh!
[Bridge] 
||: E5/ / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / :|| [x4]
 (Fade chord in or use riff at the bottom of the page)
[Verse 4]
         C9sus4When I feel lonely here,
      D9sus4...Don't waste my time with tears,
       Em11I run 'Deep throat' again,
It Em11ran for years and years,
        C9sus4Don't like the food I eat,
        D9sus4The cans are running out,
       Em11Same food for years and years,
I Em11hate the food I eat
[Chorus]
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around,Em11  
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still aroundEm11  
[Chorus]
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around,Em11  
When the C9sus4world is running D9sus4down,
You make the Em11best of what's still around     Em11Woh -oh!
[Break]
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
Verse 5]
        C9sus4Turn on my VCR,
        D9sus4Same one I've had for years,
        Em11James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show,
        Em11Same tape I've had for years,
        C9sus4I sit in my old car,
        D9sus4Same one I've had for years,
        Em11This old battery's running down,
It Em11ran for years and years
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / | Em11/  /  /  / |
| C9sus4/  /  /  / | D9sus4/  /  /  / |   Em11/  ||
===================================================== 
  [Additional 2nd guitar part]
e|--C7sus2----8----|--D7sus2------10----|--Em115--------|--Em115--------|
B|--8--8--8--|--10--10--10--|--5--------|--5--------|
G|--7--------|---9----------|--7--------|--7--------|
D|--8--------|--10----------|--5--------|--5--------|
A|-----------|--------------|--7--------|--7--------|
E|-----------|--------------|-----------|-----------|
For the ending in some live performances Andy Summers
played along in unison with Sting's bass riff,
it could also be used in the break.
Palm mute the bridge and add Chorus and delay effects
e|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----1-3---1-3---|----3-5---3-5---|
E|--3-----5-------|--5-----5-------|
e|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----5-7---5-7---|----5-7---5-7---|
E|--7-----7-----0-|--7-----7-----0-|

All chords in this song (4)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

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

When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around

by The Police

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C9sus4

D9sus4

Em11

you make the best of what's still around

IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website

option for a particular chord progression. Just use

Main Guitar:

C9sus4 = x-3-3-3-3-3

D9sus4 = x-5-5-5-5-5

Em11 = x-7-5-7-5-5

E5 = x-x-x-x-12-12

Additional 2nd guitar:

(See bottom of document for tablature of this Riff)

C7sus2 = x-x-8-7-8-8

D7sus2 = x-x-10-9-10-10-10

Em11 = x-7-5-7-5-5

[Intro]

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

[Verse 1]

C9sus4

Turn on my VCR,

D9sus4

Same one I've had for years,

Em11

James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show,

Em11

Same tape I've had for years,

C9sus4

I sit in my old car,

D9sus4

Same one I've had for years,

Em11

This old battery's running down,

Em11

It ran for years and years

[Verse 2]

C9sus4

Turn on the radio,

D9sus4

Static hurts my ears,

Em11

Tell me, where would I go?

Em11

I ain't been out in years,

C9sus4

Turn on the stereo,

D9sus4

It's played for years and years,

Em11 Em11

An Otis Redding song, ...it's all I own

[Chorus]

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around,

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around

[Verse 3]

C9sus4 D9sus4

Plug in my M.C.I. ...to exercise my brain,

Em11

Make records on my own,

Em11

Can't go out in the rain,

C9sus4

Pick up the telephone,

D9sus4

I've listened here for years,

Em11

No one to talk to me,

Em11

I've listened here for years

[Chorus]

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around,

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is a - running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around Woh -oh!

[Bridge]

||: / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / :|| [x4]

(Fade chord in or use riff at the bottom of the page)

[Verse 4]

C9sus4

When I feel lonely here,

D9sus4

...Don't waste my time with tears,

Em11

I run 'Deep throat' again,

Em11

It ran for years and years,

C9sus4

Don't like the food I eat,

D9sus4

The cans are running out,

Em11

Same food for years and years,

Em11

I hate the food I eat

[Chorus]

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around,

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around

[Chorus]

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around,

C9sus4 D9sus4

When the world is running down,

Em11 Em11

You make the best of what's still around Woh -oh!

[Break]

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

Verse 5]

C9sus4

Turn on my VCR,

D9sus4

Same one I've had for years,

Em11

James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show,

Em11

Same tape I've had for years,

C9sus4

I sit in my old car,

D9sus4

Same one I've had for years,

Em11

This old battery's running down,

Em11

It ran for years and years

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C9sus4 D9sus4 Em11

| / / / / | / / / / | / ||

=====================================================

[Additional 2nd guitar part]

C7sus2 D7sus2 Em11 Em11

e|------8----|--------10----|--5--------|--5--------|

B|--8--8--8--|--10--10--10--|--5--------|--5--------|

G|--7--------|---9----------|--7--------|--7--------|

D|--8--------|--10----------|--5--------|--5--------|

A|-----------|--------------|--7--------|--7--------|

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

For the ending in some live performances Andy Summers

played along in unison with Sting's bass riff,

it could also be used in the break.

Palm mute the bridge and add Chorus and delay effects

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

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

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

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

A|----1-3---1-3---|----3-5---3-5---|

E|--3-----5-------|--5-----5-------|

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

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

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

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

A|----5-7---5-7---|----5-7---5-7---|

E|--7-----7-----0-|--7-----7-----0-|

About When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around Chords by The Police

Learn how to play When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around by The Police with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around chords”, “When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around guitar chords”, or “The Police When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around 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 When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around chords and for experienced players who want accurate When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C9sus4, D9sus4, Em11, A, C, E5.

FAQ — When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around by The Police

How do I play "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" by The Police on guitar?

Open the free chords for "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" by The Police on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" by The Police free?

Yes. The chords for "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" by The Police are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" by The Police with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Police below.

What key is "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" in?

The chords for "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around" show the original chord names (including C9sus4, D9sus4, Em11, A, C, E5). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.