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Rat Race

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Bass intro]
C#m          G#m          A            B
G|------------|------------|------------|--------------|
D|------------|-------1----|------------|--------------|
A|-4--2-----2-|----2-----2-|----4--7--4-|-2--------2-2-|
E|-------4----|-4----------|-5----------|----4--2------|
[Intro]  
C#m                         C#G#G
 (the piano plays the notes , , )
C#mAAB
   --
C#m   G#m   A   B
[Verse]
C#m                    G#m        A                       B
You~re working at your leisure to learn the things you~ll need
C#m                   G#m            A        B
The promises you make tomorrow carry no guarantee
C#m                   G#m          A         B
I~ve seen your qualifications, you got a Ph.D.
C#m              G#m     A                   B
I~ve got one art O-level, it did nothing for me
[Chorus]
E       B       A
Working for the rat race
E               B            A
You know you~re wasting your time
E       B       A          C#m
Working for the rat race
          A      A  B
You~re no friend of mine
[Verse]
You plan your conversation to impress the college bar
Just talking about your mother and daddy~s Jaguar
Wear your political T-shirt and sacred college scarf
Discussing the world situation, but just for a laugh
You~ll be working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
Working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine
[Break] 
C#m  G#m  A   B
[Chorus]
Working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
Working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine
[Verse]
Just working at your leisure to learn the things you don~t need
The promises you make tomorrow carry no guarantee
I~ve seen your qualifications, you got a Ph.D.
I~ve got one art O-level, it did nothing for me
[Chorus]
Working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
You~re working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine

Rat Race chords and lyrics

Free chords for Rat Race by The Specials. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]  
C#m (the piano plays the notes C#, G#, G)
C#m   A-A-B
C#m   G#m   A   B
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Verse]
You plan your conversation to impress the college bar
Just talking about your mother and daddy~s Jaguar
Wear your political T-shirt and sacred college scarf
Discussing the world situation, but just for a laugh
You~ll be working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
Working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine
[Break] 
C#m  G#m  A   B
[Chorus]
Working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
Working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine
[Verse]
Just working at your leisure to learn the things you don~t need
The promises you make tomorrow carry no guarantee
I~ve seen your qualifications, you got a Ph.D.
I~ve got one art O-level, it did nothing for me
[Chorus]
Working for the rat race
You know you~re wasting your time
You~re working for the rat race
You~re no friend of mine

Rat Race Chords by The Specials

Learn how to play Rat Race by The Specials with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rat Race chords”, “Rat Race guitar chords”, or “The Specials 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 C#m, G#m, A, B, G, D.

Frequently asked questions about Rat Race

How do I play "Rat Race" by The Specials on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Rat Race" by The Specials 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 The Specials free?

Yes. The chords for "Rat Race" by The Specials 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 The Specials with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by The Specials below.

What key is "Rat Race" in?

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