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Id Rather Be Dead

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Amajor

90BPM

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Chorus:
I'd rather be Ddead, I'd Arather be dead
I'd rather Dbe dead than wet my bed
I'd rather be dead, I'd rather be Adead
I said dead than wet my Dbed
Oh, I'd rather be Ggone than carry Don
I'd rather go aE7way than feel this Away
Oh, I'd rather be Dthere where you haven't got a Acare
And you're better off dead Dthough it doesn't seem fair
Chorus (with  Band E)
I'd rather keep my Ahealth and dress Emyself
But you're better off F#7dead than sitting on a Bshelf
I'll tie my Etie 'till the day I Bdie
But if I Ehave to be fed then I'd rather be dead
And when he takes my hand on the very last day
I will understand because, it's better that way
Oh! It's nice to be alive when the dream comes true
You'll be better off dead, it could happen to you
Chorus (with  Band E)

All chords in this song (7)

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Id Rather Be Dead

by Harry Nilsson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#7

Chorus:

D A

I'd rather be dead, I'd rather be dead

I'd rather be dead than wet my bed

I'd rather be dead, I'd rather be dead

I said dead than wet my bed

G D

Oh, I'd rather be gone than carry on

E7 A

I'd rather go away than feel this way

D A

Oh, I'd rather be there where you haven't got a care

And you're better off dead though it doesn't seem fair

B E

Chorus (with and )

A E

I'd rather keep my health and dress myself

F#7 B

But you're better off dead than sitting on a shelf

E B

I'll tie my tie 'till the day I die

But if I have to be fed then I'd rather be dead

And when he takes my hand on the very last day

I will understand because, it's better that way

Oh! It's nice to be alive when the dream comes true

You'll be better off dead, it could happen to you

B E

Chorus (with and )

About Id Rather Be Dead Chords by Harry Nilsson

Learn how to play Id Rather Be Dead by Harry Nilsson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Id Rather Be Dead chords”, “Id Rather Be Dead guitar chords”, or “Harry Nilsson Id Rather Be Dead 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 Id Rather Be Dead chords and for experienced players who want accurate Id Rather Be Dead lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, G, E7, B, E.

FAQ — Id Rather Be Dead by Harry Nilsson

How do I play "Id Rather Be Dead" by Harry Nilsson on guitar?

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Are the chords for "Id Rather Be Dead" by Harry Nilsson free?

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Can I transpose "Id Rather Be Dead" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Id Rather Be Dead" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Id Rather Be Dead"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Id Rather Be Dead" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Id Rather Be Dead" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Id Rather Be Dead" by Harry Nilsson with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Harry Nilsson below.

What key is "Id Rather Be Dead" in?

The chords for "Id Rather Be Dead" show the original chord names (including D, A, G, E7, B, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.