London Calling Chords

tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-clash/london-calling-chords-1458941

by The Clash
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Difficulty: beginner

Tuning: EADGBE

Key: Em

Capo: no capo

Author gharms85 [a] 83. 5 contributors total, last edit on Apr 15, 2020
We have an official London Calling tab made by UG professional guitarists.

Check out the tab

Chords
Em

1/5
Strumming
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2/5
The Clash-London Calling

So many people seem to think there is a C chord in London Calling and there
simply is not. It is the bass that plays the C (Which is the 5th instead of
the root) while the guitar is playing the F. When you play this at home without
a bass it might sound weird because you want to hear that C but it's not the
guitar playing it. This is explained in greater detail by Marcus Gray in his book,
"Route 19 Revisited: The Clash and London Calling," which disects London Calling
track by track. I've also pulled up every live video I can find with any sort of
detail as to what Joe is playing. - Gharms85

This is the main rhythm guitar that is loudest in the mix.

Intro Chords:

Em: x 7 9 9 8 7
F: 8 8 10 10 10 8

Verse Chords:

Em: x 7 9 9 8 7
F: 8 8 10 10 10 8
G: 10 10 12 12 12 10

Chorus Chords:

Em: 0 2 2 0 0 0
G: 3 5 5 4 3 3
D: x x 0 2 3 2

[Intro](staccato strumming, all downstrokes)

Em Em Em Em F F F F x6

[Verse 1]
Em F
London calling to the faraway towns
Em G
Now war is declared, and battle come down
Em F
London calling to the underworld
Em G
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
Em F
London calling, now don't look to us
Em G
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
Em F
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
Em G
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing

[Chorus 1]
Em G
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Em G
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Em G
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Em D (let ring)
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

3/5
[Verse 2]
Em F
London calling to the imitation zone
Em G
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
Em F
London calling to the zombies of death
Em G
Quit holding out, and draw another breath
Em F
London calling, and I don't wanna shout
Em G
But while we were talking, I saw you nodding out
Em F
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Em G
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes

[Chorus 2]
Em G
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Em G
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
Em G
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
Em D (let ring)
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

[Interlude] (Play the same as the verse)

Em F Em G x4

[Chorus 2]
Em G
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Em G
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
Em G
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
Em D (let ring)
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

[Instrumental]
Em Em Em Em F F F F x4

Now get this

[Verse 3]
Em F
London calling, yes, I was there, too
Em G
An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
Em F
London calling at the top of the dial
Em G
After all this, won't you give me a smile?
Em F
London calling

4/5
Em F

[Outro]
Em
I never felt so much alike [fading] alike alike alike
X

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