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 — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
4 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Back On The Chain Gang" by The Pretenders: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. 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.
Try other practice modes:
About “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 there a karaoke version of "Back On The Chain Gang" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Back On The Chain Gang" by The Pretenders. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Back On The Chain Gang" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in D, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Back On The Chain Gang" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.