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18 And Life

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                             18 and Life - Skid Row
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[Intro]
 C#m   B   C#m   B   C#m   B   A   Bx2
[Verse 1]
C#mRicky was a Byoung boyC#m, he had a Bheart of stone.
C#mLived 9 to B5 and worked his Afingers to the Bbone.
C#mJust barely Bout of schoolC#m, came from the Bedge of town.
C#mFought like a Bswitchblade so Ano one could take him Bdown.
[Pre-Chorus]
AHe had no money, oohF#, no good at home.
He G#walked the streets a soldier aF#nd hG#e fAought the world aBlone
And now it's...
[Chorus]
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to go.
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to C#mgo.
[Interlude]
B C#m B C#m B A B
[Verse 2]
C#mTequila Bin his heartbeatC#m, his veins burned Bgasoline.
C#mIt kept his Bmotor running, Abut it never Bkept him clean.
C#mThey say he Bloved adventureC#m, Ricky's the Bwild one.
C#mHe married Btrouble had a Acourtship with a Bgun.
[Pre-Chorus]
ABang, bang shoot 'em up, the F#party never ends.
You G#can't think of dying wF#hen tG#hat Abottle's your best Bfriend.
And now it's...
[Chorus]
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to go.
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to C#mgo.
[Bridge]
E"Accidents will happen", they Ball heard Ricky say.
He Afired his six-shot to the wind, that Bchild blew a child C#maway.
[Solo]
  C#m    A    E    Bx4
[Chorus]
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to go.
C#mEighteen and Alife you got it.  EEighteen and Blife you know.
C#mYour crime is Atime and it's, Eeighteen and Blife to C#mgo.
[Outro]
  C#m    A    E    Bx4
C#m

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

This song tells a somber story of a young man named Ricky, whose youth becomes his downfall. It explores the tragic outcome of an 18-year-old receiving a life sentence after being involved in the murder of another teenager. The inspiration for the song came from guitarist Dave Sabo's brother's life, though it was long believed to be based on a newspaper article about a similar incident involving a gun and alcohol. Released in 1989 on their self-titled debut album, "18 And Life" captures a powerful narrative of lost innocence and harsh consequences. Playing it evokes the weight of a life irrevocably altered.

AI-written from these sources:18 and Life — Wikipedia ↗Skid Row (American band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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18 And Life

by Skid Row

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#m

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18 and Life - Skid Row

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[Intro]

C#m B C#m B C#m B A B

[Verse 1]

C#m B C#m B

Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone.

C#m B A B

Lived 9 to 5 and worked his fingers to the bone.

C#m B C#m B

Just barely out of school, came from the edge of town.

C#m B A B

Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down.

[Pre-Chorus]

A F#

He had no money, ooh, no good at home.

G# F# G# A B

He walked the streets a soldier and he fought the world alone

And now it's...

[Chorus]

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B C#m

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

[Interlude]

B C#m B C#m B A B

[Verse 2]

C#m B C#m B

Tequila in his heartbeat, his veins burned gasoline.

C#m B A B

It kept his motor running, but it never kept him clean.

C#m B C#m B

They say he loved adventure, Ricky's the wild one.

C#m B A B

He married trouble had a courtship with a gun.

[Pre-Chorus]

A F#

Bang, bang shoot 'em up, the party never ends.

G# F# G# A B

You can't think of dying when that bottle's your best friend.

And now it's...

[Chorus]

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B C#m

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

[Bridge]

E B

"Accidents will happen", they all heard Ricky say.

A B C#m

He fired his six-shot to the wind, that child blew a child away.

[Solo]

C#m A E B

[Chorus]

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

C#m A E B

Eighteen and life you got it. Eighteen and life you know.

C#m A E B C#m

Your crime is time and it's, eighteen and life to go.

[Outro]

C#m A E B

C#m

About 18 And Life Chords by Skid Row

Learn how to play 18 And Life by Skid Row with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “18 And Life chords”, “18 And Life guitar chords”, or “Skid Row 18 And Life 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 18 And Life chords and for experienced players who want accurate 18 And Life lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C#m, B, A, F#, G#, E.

FAQ — 18 And Life by Skid Row

How do I play "18 And Life" by Skid Row on guitar?

Open the free chords for "18 And Life" by Skid Row 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 "18 And Life" by Skid Row free?

Yes. The chords for "18 And Life" by Skid Row are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "18 And Life" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "18 And Life" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "18 And Life"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "18 And Life" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "18 And Life" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "18 And Life" by Skid Row with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Skid Row below.

What key is "18 And Life" in?

The chords for "18 And Life" show the original chord names (including C#m, B, A, F#, G#, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.