Other arrangements of Back On The Chain Gang
Pick a learning view.
I found a (A)pic ture of you.
trol.
(Gmaj7)Oh.
What hi jacked my world news that night
to a place in the past like a we’ve been cast out of?
(Gmaj7)Oh.
Threw sand in our eyes Now we’re back in the fight.
Put We’re back on the train.
(Em)Oh,
back on the chain gang.
A cir cum (A)stance be yond our trol.
(Gmaj7)Oh.
The phone, T V and news of the
to a Got in the house like a pi geon from out hell.
(Gmaj7)Oh.
Threw sand in our eyes and de scend ed like flies.
Put us back on the train.
(Em)Oh,
back on the chain gang.
(Em)Oh,
back on the chain gang.
The (A7)pow ers that be
that (A7)force us to live like we do
(A7)bring me to my knees
when I (A7)see what they’ve done to you.
But I’ll (A7)die as I stand here to day,
(A7)know ing that deep in my heart
(A7)they’ll fall to ru in one (Dm)day
for (A7)mak ing us part.
I found a (B)pic ture of you.
(Amaj7)Oh.
Those were the hap pi est days of my life.
Like a break in the bat tle was your part,
(Amaj7)oh,
in the wretch ed life of a lone ly heart.
Now we’re back on the train.
(A)Oh,
back on the chain gang.
Back On The Chain Gang — Visual Piano Sheet Music
4 people have learned this song
"Back On The Chain Gang" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of D, 135 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
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About “Back On The Chain Gang”
- Why does "Back On The Chain Gang" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Back On The Chain Gang".
- What key is "Back On The Chain Gang" by The Pretenders played in?
- Back On The Chain Gang is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- The arrangement plays at 135 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Back On The Chain Gang" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- "Back On The Chain Gang" was originally performed by The Pretenders. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- This arrangement uses 11 chords: A, A7, Amaj7, B, D, Dm, E, Em, +3 more.
- What other songs by The Pretenders can I play here?
- Try "I'LL STAND BY YOU", "MIDDLE OF THE ROAD", "BRASS IN POCKET". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Back On The Chain Gang".
- Can I see all the notes in "Back On The Chain Gang"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of D at 135 BPM.