Now playing

Bell Boy

Chords

4.78 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Fminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Bell Boy
By The Who
>From Quadrophenia, 1973
Written by Pete Townshend ©1973 Fabulous Music Ltd.
Capo on 1
                  Eb5x11346 & 6688xx                       Bbx1333x
                   Ebxx1343             F7/                 Axx1211
Ab/               Eb(4)x1144                             Abm64x1331
Db/                Ebx41121 & x41124                    Fmaj7xx3555
Ab/ C( Ebbass)*      x31144                               Fiixxx565
 F7sus4= Bbsus4/    Fx8886x             Fmaj7ii              xxx555
 Eb7sus4= Absus4/  Ebx6664x             F7ii                 xxx545
                  Ab6xx6541             Abii                 xxx544
                  Cm7x35343                                 F133533
                   Dmxx7765                                Ab4x1144
                    Cx355xx                                Dbx466xx
               Ebsus2xx1341             
[*no Ab bass, so default to C bottom; bass plays Eb]
[Gtr 1, top, acoustic; Gtr 2, bottom, electric]
[intro; synth arr for acoustic]
//|     Eb  Cm|Db/   Eb  Ab/Eb|       Eb  Ab/Eb|Db/ Eb|
//|Eb5      |             |              |    //|
|     Eb  Cm|Db/   Eb  Ab/Eb|       Eb  Ab/Eb|Db/ Eb|
|       Eb|             |              |      |
[verse; acoustic in]
||               Eb  Ab/  Eb|Db/             Eb  Ab/C|
||                        |                      |
A beach is a place where a man can feel he's the 
|        Eb  Ab/ Eb|Db/           Eb  Ab/Eb|
|                |                     |
 Only soul in the world that's real
|     Eb  Ab/Eb|Db/    Eb  Ab/ Eb//|         Eb  Ab/Eb|Db/    Eb  Ab/C||
|            |                 |                |             ||
But I see a face coming through the haze
I remember him from those crazy days, crazy days, crazy days
//|                  Cm7          Ab|           Cm7  F|
//|Cm7                            |             //|
     Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces
|                Cm7    Ab|          Cm7  F|
|                    Cm7|            //|
 Riding up in front of a hundred faces
|               Cm7           Ab|       Cm7    F|
|                          Cm7|           //|
   I don't suppose you would remember me but
|                  Cm7        Ab|       Cm7  F|
|Cm7                          |[pick slide]
 I used to follow you back in '63
||:    F  Dm|     Eb  Ab|      Bb  C|    Db   Eb:||[repeat through spoken]
||:    F  Dm|     Eb  Ab|      Bb  C|    Db   Eb:||2
[spoken]
I've got a good job and I'm newly born
You should see me dressed up in my uniform
I work in an hotel, all gilt and flash
Remember the gap where the doors we smashed?
|  Bb  F7/ A  Bb|                      |
|           |                      |
 Bell Boy,  I got to get running now
 Bell Boy,  Keep my lip buttoned down
 Bell Boy,  Carry this baggage out
 Bell Boy, Always running at someone's bleedin'
|  F7sus4|                 Bb| Eb7sus4|   Ab6|
|        |                   |        |      |
 Heel          You know how I feel
|                           Abm6|     Ebsus2|        |        |       |
|                               |           |        |        |       |
     Always running at someone's heel
|                  Fmaj7         Cmaj7|        D|
|                                   |         |
    Some nights I still sleep on the beach, 
|              Fmaj7        Cmaj7|     D|
|                              |      |
    Remember when stars were in reach
|Fii            Fmaj7ii   |F7ii    |
|                         |        |
    I wander in early to work
|Abii                                |    Eb  Ebsus2|   Eb  Ebsus2|    Eb|
|                                    |            |           |      |
    Spend my day lickin' boots for my perks
[repeat verse]
A beach is a place where a man can feel
He's the only soul in the world that's real
But I see a face coming through the haze
I remember him from those crazy days, crazy days, crazy days, crazy days
Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces
Riding up in front of a hundred faces
I don't suppose you would remember me 
But I used to follow you back in '63
People often change but when I look in your eyes
You can learn a lot from a life like mine
The secret to me, it ain't flown up a flag
I carry it behind this bleeding little badge, what says:
Bell Boy, I gotta get running now
Bell Boy, Keep your lip buttoned down
Bell Boy, Carry the bloody baggage out
Bell Boy, Always running at someone's heel,
You know how I feel, always running at someone's heel
|Ebsus2------|-----|----|----|
|<11---|-----|<11-|----|
|------|-----|----|----|
|------|-----|----|----|
|------|-----|----|----|
|------|-----|----|----|

All chords in this song (23)

🎸 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

Bell Boy

by The Who

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Eb5

Abm6

Fmaj7

Fii

F7sus4

Bbsus4

Eb7sus4

Absus4

Ab6

Cm7

Ebsus2

Cmaj7

Bell Boy

By The Who

>From Quadrophenia, 1973

Capo on 1

Eb5 Bb

x11346 & 6688xx x1333x

Eb F7 A

xx1343 / xx1211

Ab Eb Abm6

/ (4)x1144 4x1331

Db Eb Fmaj7

/ x41121 & x41124 xx3555

Ab C Eb Fii

/ ( bass)* x31144 xxx565

F7sus4 Bbsus4 F

= / x8886x Fmaj7ii xxx555

Eb7sus4 Absus4 Eb

= / x6664x F7ii xxx545

Ab6

xx6541 Abii xxx544

Cm7 F

x35343 133533

Dm Ab

xx7765 4x1144

C Db

x355xx x466xx

Ebsus2

xx1341

[*no Ab bass, so default to C bottom; bass plays Eb]

[Gtr 1, top, acoustic; Gtr 2, bottom, electric]

[intro; synth arr for acoustic]

Eb Cm Db Eb Ab Eb Eb Ab Eb Db Eb

//| |/ /| /|/ |

//|Eb5 | | | //|

Eb Cm Db Eb Ab Eb Eb Ab Eb Db Eb

| |/ /| /|/ |

| | | | |

[verse; acoustic in]

Eb Ab Eb Db Eb Ab C

|| / |/ /|

|| | |

A beach is a place where a man can feel he's the

Eb Ab Eb Db Eb Ab Eb

| / |/ /|

| | |

Only soul in the world that's real

Eb Ab Eb Db Eb Ab Eb Eb Ab Eb Db Eb Ab C

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

| | | | ||

But I see a face coming through the haze

I remember him from those crazy days, crazy days, crazy days

Cm7 Ab Cm7 F

//| | |

//|Cm7 | //|

Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces

Cm7 Ab Cm7 F

| | |

Cm7

| | //|

Riding up in front of a hundred faces

Cm7 Ab Cm7 F

| | |

Cm7

| | //|

I don't suppose you would remember me but

Cm7 Ab Cm7 F

| | |

|Cm7 |[pick slide]

I used to follow you back in '63

F Dm Eb Ab Bb C Db Eb

||: | | | :||[repeat through spoken]

F Dm Eb Ab Bb C Db Eb

||: | | | :||2

[spoken]

I've got a good job and I'm newly born

You should see me dressed up in my uniform

I work in an hotel, all gilt and flash

Remember the gap where the doors we smashed?

Bb F7 A Bb

| / | |

| | |

Bell Boy, I got to get running now

Bell Boy, Keep my lip buttoned down

Bell Boy, Carry this baggage out

Bell Boy, Always running at someone's bleedin'

F7sus4 Bb Eb7sus4 Ab6

| | | | |

Heel You know how I feel

Abm6 Ebsus2

| | | | | |

Always running at someone's heel

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 D

| | |

Some nights I still sleep on the beach,

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 D

| | |

Remember when stars were in reach

|Fii Fmaj7ii |F7ii |

| | |

I wander in early to work

Eb Ebsus2 Eb Ebsus2 Eb

| | | | |

Spend my day lickin' boots for my perks

[repeat verse]

A beach is a place where a man can feel

He's the only soul in the world that's real

But I see a face coming through the haze

I remember him from those crazy days, crazy days, crazy days, crazy days

Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces

Riding up in front of a hundred faces

I don't suppose you would remember me

But I used to follow you back in '63

People often change but when I look in your eyes

You can learn a lot from a life like mine

The secret to me, it ain't flown up a flag

I carry it behind this bleeding little badge, what says:

Bell Boy, I gotta get running now

Bell Boy, Keep your lip buttoned down

Bell Boy, Carry the bloody baggage out

Bell Boy, Always running at someone's heel,

You know how I feel, always running at someone's heel

Ebsus2

|------|-----|----|----|

|<11---|-----|<11-|----|

|------|-----|----|----|

About Bell Boy Chords by The Who

Learn how to play Bell Boy by The Who with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Bell Boy chords”, “Bell Boy guitar chords”, or “The Who Bell Boy 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 Bell Boy chords and for experienced players who want accurate Bell Boy lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Eb5, Bb, Eb, F7, A, Ab.

FAQ — Bell Boy by The Who

How do I play "Bell Boy" by The Who on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Bell Boy" by The Who 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 "Bell Boy" by The Who free?

Yes. The chords for "Bell Boy" by The Who are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Bell Boy" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Bell Boy"?

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

Is "Bell Boy" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Bell Boy" by The Who with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Who below.

What key is "Bell Boy" in?

The chords for "Bell Boy" show the original chord names (including Eb5, Bb, Eb, F7, A, Ab). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.