Now playing

Black

Chords

4.723 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Whole song is just 3 chords, verse and chorus are the same. Bridge is slightly different. 
[Chorus]
EmBlack, you are my Denemy
And BmI cannot get Emclose to thee
Our life is ruled by Denmity
And BmI can't weaken Emthat
EmThe only way that DI can see
BmIs to hold you Emclose to me
To love you for it's Dmeant to be
I Bmweaken your Emattack
[Verse]
EmEverything was Dlucked and downy
BmWhat was good was Emup from under
EmUntil black, that Dawful tender
BmCame and popped my sEmense of wonder
EmAll at once all Deyes turned at him
BmLeaving me an Emunwatched body
EmAnd it sagged, my Dbody's rib cage
BmOut from under Emogler's study
EmBlack was decompDosing quickly
BmThis was found offEmensive to me
EmHis disrespect for Dlife's proprieties
BmMade me scared he wEmould destroy me
[Chorus]
EmBlack, you are my Denemy
And BmI cannot get Emclose to thee
Our life is ruled by Denmity
And BmI can't weaken Emthat
EmThe only way that DI can see
BmIs to hold you Emclose to me
To love you for it's Dmeant to be
I Bmweaken your Emattack
[Verse]
EmSo I thought I'd Dtry to cut him
BmTry to force him 'Emneath my level
EmThe only way to eqDual to him
BmWould be hit him wEmith a shovel
EmBut to really rDise above him
BmThat would be the Emfinal evil
EmSo instead I Dasked the sucker
BmIf he'd care to Emsee my rooms
EmAnd as a friend and Das a comrade
BmAnd all the things that Emthese implied
EmI made him leave what Dit was that he had
BmUsed to keep us Emunallied
[Chorus]
EmBlack, you are my Denemy
And BmI cannot get Emclose to thee
Our life is ruled by Denmity
And BmI can't weaken Emthat
EmThe only way that DI can see
BmIs to hold you Emclose to me
To love you for it's Dmeant to be
I Bmweaken your attEmack 
[Bridge]
EmNow black and I we Bmare togetherBm  
EmFairly just insBmeparableBm  
EmAnd in the terribBmlest of weatherBm  
Our F#mbonds are incorruptibleF#m  F#m  F#m  
[Chorus]
EmBlack, you are my Denemy
And BmI cannot get Emclose to thee
Our life is ruled by Denmity
And BmI can't weaken Emthat
EmThe only way that DI can see
BmIs to hold you Emclose to me
To love you for it's Dmeant to be
I Bmweaken your attEmack 

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

Black

by Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Whole song is just 3 chords, verse and chorus are the same. Bridge is slightly different.

[Chorus]

Em D

Black, you are my enemy

Bm Em

And I cannot get close to thee

Our life is ruled by enmity

Bm Em

And I can't weaken that

Em D

The only way that I can see

Bm Em

Is to hold you close to me

To love you for it's meant to be

Bm Em

I weaken your attack

[Verse]

Em D

Everything was lucked and downy

Bm Em

What was good was up from under

Em D

Until black, that awful tender

Bm Em

Came and popped my sense of wonder

Em D

All at once all eyes turned at him

Bm Em

Leaving me an unwatched body

Em D

And it sagged, my body's rib cage

Bm Em

Out from under ogler's study

Em D

Black was decomposing quickly

Bm Em

This was found offensive to me

Em D

His disrespect for life's proprieties

Bm Em

Made me scared he would destroy me

[Chorus]

Em D

Black, you are my enemy

Bm Em

And I cannot get close to thee

Our life is ruled by enmity

Bm Em

And I can't weaken that

Em D

The only way that I can see

Bm Em

Is to hold you close to me

To love you for it's meant to be

Bm Em

I weaken your attack

[Verse]

Em D

So I thought I'd try to cut him

Bm Em

Try to force him 'neath my level

Em D

The only way to equal to him

Bm Em

Would be hit him with a shovel

Em D

But to really rise above him

Bm Em

That would be the final evil

Em D

So instead I asked the sucker

Bm Em

If he'd care to see my rooms

Em D

And as a friend and as a comrade

Bm Em

And all the things that these implied

Em D

I made him leave what it was that he had

Bm Em

Used to keep us unallied

[Chorus]

Em D

Black, you are my enemy

Bm Em

And I cannot get close to thee

Our life is ruled by enmity

Bm Em

And I can't weaken that

Em D

The only way that I can see

Bm Em

Is to hold you close to me

To love you for it's meant to be

Bm Em

I weaken your attack

[Bridge]

Em Bm Bm

Now black and I we are together

Em Bm Bm

Fairly just inseparable

Em Bm Bm

And in the terriblest of weather

F#m F#m F#m F#m

Our bonds are incorruptible

[Chorus]

Em D

Black, you are my enemy

Bm Em

And I cannot get close to thee

Our life is ruled by enmity

Bm Em

And I can't weaken that

Em D

The only way that I can see

Bm Em

Is to hold you close to me

To love you for it's meant to be

Bm Em

I weaken your attack

About Black Chords by Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Learn how to play Black by Bonnie "Prince" Billy with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Black chords”, “Black guitar chords”, or “Bonnie "Prince" Billy Black 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 Black chords and for experienced players who want accurate Black lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, Bm, F#m.

FAQ — Black by Bonnie "Prince" Billy

How do I play "Black" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Black" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy 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 "Black" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy free?

Yes. The chords for "Black" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Black" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Black"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Black" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Black" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Black" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bonnie "Prince" Billy below.

What key is "Black" in?

The chords for "Black" show the original chord names (including Em, D, Bm, F#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.