Life on Mars chords

by David Bowie

Song Key: Bb Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 124 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Intermediate

Chords: Bb, Bbm, C7, Cm, Caug, Db7, D, Ddim7, Eb, Ebm7, F, Fm, F#aug, F#dim7, Gm, Ab, Ab7, Am, Aaug

Chord Chart Legend
Bb Major Bb Major barre chord C7 C Minor barre chord C Augmented Db7 barre chord D Major Ddim7 Eb Major barre chord Ebm7 barre chord F Major barre chord F minor barre chord F#aug F#dim7 Gm barre chord Ab major barre chord Ab7 barre chord G11 Aaug
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Bb Major-LH Bb Major barre chord-LH C7-LH C Minor barre chord-LH C Augmented-LH Db7 barre chord-LH D Major-LH Ddim7-LH Eb Major barre chord-LH Ebm7 barre chord-LH F Major barre chord-LH F minor barre chord-LH F#aug-LH F#dim7-LH Gm barre chord-LH Ab major barre chord-LH Ab7 barre chord-LH G11-LH Aaug-LH

Life on Mars

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
              F
Intro: 4/4 ‖      (It's a)‖ 
      
          F                      Cm  
1. It's a God-awful small af-fair
          D                        Gm 
   To the girl with the mou-sy hair
                                  C7
   But her mum-my is yel-ling, "No!"
                                  F
   And her dad-dy has told her to go
   
           F                        Cm
   But her friend is now-here to be seen
           D                             Gm
   Now she walks through her sun-ken dream
                                      C7
   To the seat with the clear-est view
                                            Ab 
   And she's hooked to the sil-ver screen |    (But the) |
   
           Caug                     Fm 
   But the film is a sad-den-ing bore
             Ab7                       Db 
   For she's lived it ten times or more
             Aaug                    Bbm 
   She could spit in the eyes of fools
           Db7
   As they ask her to focus on...
   
        Bb       Eb
Chorus: Sail-ors fight-ing in the dance hall
     Gm7        F#aug                    F
        Oh man! Look at those cave-men | go  | 
     Fm                      Cm7
        It's the freak-i-est show
     Ebm7
        Take a look at the... 
   
        Bb      Eb
        Law-man beat-ing up the wrong guy   
      Gm7       F#aug                         F 
        Oh man! Won-der if he'll ever know |     |
     Fm                           Cm7 
        He's in the best sel-ling show
     Ebm7                Gm      F#aug
        Is there life on Mars? |        |
   
    Bb     C7     F    F#dim7    Gm    Ddim7    Am     Bb     Bbm
‖       |      |     |        |      |       |      |      |       ‖ 

   
  F                                   Cm
2. It's on A-me-ri-ca's tor-tured brow
                D                       Gm
   That Mi-ckey Mouse has grown up a cow
                                        C7
   Now the work-ers have struck for fame
                                 F
  'Cause Len-non's on sale a-gain
   
           F                            Cm 
   See the mice in their mil-lion hordes
          D                     Gm
   From I-bi-za to the Nor-folk Broads
                                    C7
   Rule Bri-tan-nia is out of bounds
                                       Ab   
   To my mo-ther, my dog, and clowns |    (But the) |
   
           Caug                    Fm 
   But the film is a saddening bore
           Ab7                       Db
  'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
          Aaug                  Bbm
   It's a-bout to be writ a-gain
        Db7
   As I ask you to focus on...
   
      
        Bb       Eb
Chorus: Sail-ors fight-ing in the dance hall
     Gm7        F#aug                    F
        Oh man! Look at those cave-men | go  | 
     Fm                      Cm7
        It's the freak-i-est show
     Ebm7
        Take a look at the... 
   
        Bb      Eb
        Law-man beat-ing up the wrong guy   
      Gm7       F#aug                         F 
        Oh man! Won-der if he'll ever know |     |
     Fm                           Cm7 
        He's in the best sel-ling show
     Ebm7                Gm
        Is there life on Mars?  
		
       F#aug    Bb     C7     F    F#dim7    Gm 
     ‖       |      |      |     |        |      |

        Bb                     Eb     Ebm     Bb
     |      |   𝄎   |   𝄎   |      |      |   𝄑   ‖ 
	                            (rall.)

Unique Chords and Timing

  • rall. (Rallentando): broadening of the tempo - progressively slower
  • 𝄑 fermata: pause symbol - play and hold (This symbol shows up on some browsers as a square)
  • All augmented (aug) chords can als be written as + chords, i.e., C+, F#+ and A+
  • There is no real 'easy key' due to the inclusion of augmented and diminished chords. Make sure you try these chords as they are all very easy to play, and "sit well" in the song giving it a slightly discordant sound which complements the song's lyrical theme.

Song Details:

  • Songwriter: David Bowie
  • Lyrics Begin: It's a God-awful small affair, to the girl with the mousy hair.
  • Performing Artist: David Bowie
  • Single:
    Recorded: January 9, 1962
    Released: 22 June, 1973
    B-side: The Man Who Sold the World
  • Genre: Glam Rock, Rock and Roll, Music Hall
  • Album: Hunky Dory
    Recorded: 8 June – 6 August 1971
    Released: 17 December, 1971
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