Chords of Fame

Chords of Fame (zack26)

One of my favorites by Phil Ochs from his “Greatest Hits” LP (not really a greatest hits – just Ochs poking fun at his own lack of popularity, record sales, and of course, hits).   The cover has Ochs in an Elvis gold lame suit – the back reads “50 Phil Ochs Fans Can’t Be Wrong!”  I’m currently obsessed with his music.  If you haven’t listened to  him he’s definitely worth checking out – especially “Pleasures from the Harbor”, “Tape From California”, “Rehearsals for Retirement”, and “Greatest Hits” 

Jad and Daniel changed the chord progression and also a few lyrics (as expected).  I threw the chords to the original Phil Ochs version just for fun)

The wiki site is good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs

Chords of Fame
(Phil Ochs)
(“Act Naturally” by Morrison/Russell)

(Capo 3rd fret)
G    C    G
G
I found him by the stage last night
               C                          G
He was breathing his last breath
A needle full of heroin 
        C                      D
was all that he had left
         G            
I can see that you make music
                    C               D
Cause you carry your guitar
         G
But God help the troubadour
        Em
Who tries to be a star

G                  C            G
So play the chords of love my friends
G                C          G
Play the chords of fame
G                             C
But if you want to keep your songs
G          C          D
Don’t, don’t, don’t
              G           C           G
Don’t play the chords of fame

(verse chords)
I’ve seen my share of hustlers
As they try to take the world
When they find their melody
They’re surrounded by the girls
But it all fades so quickly
Like a sunny summer day
Reporters ask you questions
They write down what you say

(chorus chords)
So play the chords of love my friends
Play the chords of fame
But if you want to keep your songs
Don’t, don’t, don’t
Don’t play the chords of fame

(verse chords)
They’ll rob you of your innocence
They’ll put you up for sale
The more that you will find success
The more that you will fail
I’ve been around, I’ve had my share
And I really can’t complain
But I wonder who I left behind
The other side of fame

(chorus chords)
So play the chords of love my friends
Play the chords of fame
But if you want to keep your songs
Don’t, don’t, don’t
Don’t play the chords of fame

G                                            C
They’re gonna put me in the movies
G                                                    D
They’re gonna make a big star out of me
G                                               C
I’ll play the part and I won’t rehearsing
G                                D               G   C   G   C   G   C  Em
Cause all I gotta do is act naturally


Chords of Fame
Original version by Phil Ochs


E                    
I found him by the stage last night
               D                  A
He was breathing his last breath
E
A bottle of wine and a cigarette
D              A
Was all that he had left
A
I can see you make the music
D                 E
’cause you carry a guitar
A
God help the troubadour
       F#m                   G     
Who tries to be a star

      A              G            A
So play the chords of love, my friend
 A            G            A
Play the chords of pain
A                     D              A
If you want to keep your song,
A                   E
Don’t, don’t, don’t
           A             G           A
Don’t play the chords of fame