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Rat Race

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...RAT RACE... by Bob Marley
--------------..............
*from 'Positive Vibration' (1976)*
[Intro]
|  Cm    Bb    Gm  Eb|  Gm    Cm  Bb| Cm  
                          Ya too rude!
|  Cm    Bb    Gm  Eb|   Cm  Bb| Cm  
[Chorus 1]
 CmOh, what a rat Bbrace, oh, what a rat Cmrace!
Oh, what a rat Bbrace; this is the rat Cmrace! Rat race! (Rat race!)
[Verse 1]
Some a Bblawful, some a bastard, some a jacket:
Oh, what a rat Cmrace, yeah, rat race!
Some a Bbgorgon-a, some a hooligan-a, some a guine-gog-a,
In this 'ere rat Cmrace, rat race! I'm singin' that:
[Verse 2]
 BbWhen the cat's away; the mice will play.
 CmPolitical voilence, fill ya city, ye-ah!
 BbDon't involve Rasta in your say say;
 CmRasta don't work for no, C.I.A.
[Chorus 2]
Rat Bbrace, rat race, rat Cmrace, rat race! I'm sayin';
[Verse 3]
 BbWhen you think, is peace and safety; a sudden destruction.
 CmCollective security, for surety, ye-ah!
 BbDon't forget your history, know your destiny;
In the a-Cmbundance of water, the fool is thirsty.
[Chorus 3]
Rat Bbrace, rat race, rat Cmrace, rat race,
Oh, it's a dis-Bbgrace to see the human-race, in a rat Cmrace, rat race!
Coda:
You got the Bbhorse race; you got the dog race;
You got the human-race; but this is a rat Cmrace, rat race!
(Fade)
CHORD DIAGRAMS:
---------------
   Cm      Bb      Gm      Eb
 EADGBE  EADGBE  EADGBE  EADGBE
 x35543  x13331  355333  x68886
Tabbed by Joel from cLuMsY, Bristol, England, 2005 (clumsyband@hotmail.com)

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Chord Book

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Rat Race

by Bob Marley

Lyrics & chords · Original key

...RAT RACE... by Bob Marley

--------------..............

*from 'Positive Vibration' (1976)*

[Intro]

Cm Bb Gm Eb Gm Cm Bb Cm

| | |

Ya too rude!

Cm Bb Gm Eb Cm Bb Cm

| | |

[Chorus 1]

Cm Bb Cm

Oh, what a rat race, oh, what a rat race!

Bb Cm

Oh, what a rat race; this is the rat race! Rat race! (Rat race!)

[Verse 1]

Some a lawful, some a bastard, some a jacket:

Oh, what a rat race, yeah, rat race!

Some a gorgon-a, some a hooligan-a, some a guine-gog-a,

In this 'ere rat race, rat race! I'm singin' that:

[Verse 2]

When the cat's away; the mice will play.

Political voilence, fill ya city, ye-ah!

Don't involve Rasta in your say say;

Rasta don't work for no, C.I.A.

[Chorus 2]

Bb Cm

Rat race, rat race, rat race, rat race! I'm sayin';

[Verse 3]

When you think, is peace and safety; a sudden destruction.

Collective security, for surety, ye-ah!

Don't forget your history, know your destiny;

In the a-bundance of water, the fool is thirsty.

[Chorus 3]

Bb Cm

Rat race, rat race, rat race, rat race,

Bb Cm

Oh, it's a dis-grace to see the human-race, in a rat race, rat race!

Coda:

You got the horse race; you got the dog race;

You got the human-race; but this is a rat race, rat race!

(Fade)

CHORD DIAGRAMS:

---------------

Cm Bb Gm Eb

EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE

x35543 x13331 355333 x68886

Tabbed by Joel from cLuMsY, Bristol, England, 2005 (clumsyband@hotmail.com)

About Rat Race Chords by Bob Marley

Learn how to play Rat Race by Bob Marley with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rat Race chords”, “Rat Race guitar chords”, or “Bob Marley Rat Race 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 Rat Race chords and for experienced players who want accurate Rat Race lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Cm, Bb, Gm, Eb, C, A.

FAQ — Rat Race by Bob Marley

How do I play "Rat Race" by Bob Marley on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Rat Race" by Bob Marley 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 "Rat Race" by Bob Marley free?

Yes. The chords for "Rat Race" by Bob Marley are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Rat Race" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Rat Race"?

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

Is "Rat Race" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Rat Race" by Bob Marley with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bob Marley below.

What key is "Rat Race" in?

The chords for "Rat Race" show the original chord names (including Cm, Bb, Gm, Eb, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.