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Forbidden City

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Cmajor

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Artist: Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Song: Forbidden City
Written: Joe Strummer
Album: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Background: From the debut album released by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros in 1999.
Tuning: : Capo on 2nd fret
(Hence all chords are up two semitones, or a tone)
Chords:
C:   ======= 332010
F7:  ======= 130211
F:   ======= 133211
G7:  ======= 320001
G:   ======= 320003
Am:  ======= 002210
Notes:
1. All 7th chords are played with the chord oscillating between the 7th and Major form, 
the up and down strokes. Hence it's easier with barre chords (not shown in the 
as above).
2. Where the chords are shown with triplets in brackets ...it's a quick, forceful(forte) 
staccato rhythm.
(Intro)
[Tom-Tom & Bongos, over organ riff, leads into arpeggio chords]
   C     F7    C     G7     F7  C(x3)
Okay, dream of freedom...
Verse 1:
CUnder the moon in the F7dragon Croom
G7Inside the mind of F7a soul Cconfined
CDon't talk about soon in the F7dragon Croom
                G7        F7     C  C(x3) F7(x3)
Under the scream of a jet machine
G7(x3)            Am(x3) C(x3) F7(x3)
Who knows in the hills,
C(x3)              G7(x6)
Who knows when she will
Chorus:
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
                       Am                             C  G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,
                   C        F7       C  G7(x3) C(x3)
...Oh, China, Yeah, China
Verse 2:
CGold silk in a loom in the F7dragon Croom
GThat silk that will be F7for the Cflag of the free
C(x3)            Am(x3) C(x3) F7(x3)
Who knows in the hills
C(x3)              G7(x3)
Who knows when she will
Chorus:
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
AmWhen all the hidden pity Cin the forbidden city comes F7out
                       Am                             C  G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out, ...oh, yeah
Refrain:
                  C    F7          C  G7(x3) C(x3)
Yeah, China, Whoa-oh, China, ...Yeah, China
(Organ riff over gunfire masked by firecrackers)
                  C    F7          C  G7(x3) C(x3)
Yeah ...they got lots of towers, ' Never pushed someone so far...
Chorus:
CWhen all the hidden pity Amin the forbidden city comes F7out
CWhen all the hidden pity Amin the forbidden city comes F7out
CWhen all the hidden pity Amin the forbidden city comes F7out
                        C                            Am  G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,
Refrain:
C...Oh, F7ChinCa
(End)

All chords in this song (6)

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Forbidden City

by Joe Strummer

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Artist: Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

Song: Forbidden City

Written: Joe Strummer

Album: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style

Background: From the debut album released by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros in 1999.

Tuning: : Capo on 2nd fret

(Hence all chords are up two semitones, or a tone)

Chords:

: ======= 332010

: ======= 130211

: ======= 133211

: ======= 320001

: ======= 320003

: ======= 002210

Notes:

1. All 7th chords are played with the chord oscillating between the 7th and Major form,

the up and down strokes. Hence it's easier with barre chords (not shown in the

as above).

2. Where the chords are shown with triplets in brackets ...it's a quick, forceful(forte)

staccato rhythm.

(Intro)

[Tom-Tom & Bongos, over organ riff, leads into arpeggio chords]

C F7 C G7 F7 C

(x3)

Okay, dream of freedom...

Verse 1:

C F7 C

Under the moon in the dragon room

G7 F7 C

Inside the mind of a soul confined

C F7 C

Don't talk about soon in the dragon room

G7 F7 C C F7

(x3) (x3)

Under the scream of a jet machine

G7 Am C F7

(x3) (x3) (x3) (x3)

Who knows in the hills,

C G7

(x3) (x6)

Who knows when she will

Chorus:

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C G7

(x3)

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,

C F7 C G7 C

(x3) (x3)

...Oh, China, Yeah, China

Verse 2:

C F7 C

Gold silk in a loom in the dragon room

G F7 C

That silk that will be for the flag of the free

C Am C F7

(x3) (x3) (x3) (x3)

Who knows in the hills

C G7

(x3) (x3)

Who knows when she will

Chorus:

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

Am C G7

(x3)

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out, ...oh, yeah

Refrain:

C F7 C G7 C

(x3) (x3)

Yeah, China, Whoa-oh, China, ...Yeah, China

(Organ riff over gunfire masked by firecrackers)

C F7 C G7 C

(x3) (x3)

Yeah ...they got lots of towers, ' Never pushed someone so far...

Chorus:

C Am F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

C Am F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

C Am F7

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out

C Am G7

(x3)

When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,

Refrain:

C F7 C

...Oh, China

(End)

About Forbidden City Chords by Joe Strummer

Learn how to play Forbidden City by Joe Strummer with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Forbidden City chords”, “Forbidden City guitar chords”, or “Joe Strummer Forbidden City 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 Forbidden City chords and for experienced players who want accurate Forbidden City lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F7, F, G7, G, Am.

FAQ — Forbidden City by Joe Strummer

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What key is "Forbidden City" in?

The chords for "Forbidden City" show the original chord names (including C, F7, F, G7, G, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.