Im Waiting For The Man Chords

by David Bowie
6,307 views, added to favorites 240 times
The Velvet Underground chords use D G as the main driver of the song, I feel E A is a darker timbre that captures the origina. So as to not disrespect the VU tabbers, I'm posting this as the David Bowie version who made it his own and does not have a tab listing on UG. The rest of the song uses a fun progression of barre chords.Was this info helpful?
Difficulty: intermediate
Tuning: E A D G B E
Key: E
Capo: no capo
Author petroglyf [pro] 52. Last edit on May 23, 2020

Chords

E
A
G#
F#
D
G

Strumming

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Note, the A following the G sharp is the barred 5th fret A.
 
 
[Intro]
(on this last A, put your pinky on the third fret of the D string for variation)
E A    E  A
 
[Verse 1]
E   A               E   A
I'm waitin' for my man
E   A               E   A
26 dollars in my hand
E                 G#   A                      F#              G# E
Up to Lexington, 125, feel sick and dirty more dead than alive
D   G               D   G
I'm waitin' for my man
 
[Verse 2]
E                A                       E   A
Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown?
E                A                       E   A
Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around?
E                          G#
Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind
A                      F#                       G# E
I'm just lookin' for a very good friend of mine
E   A               E   A
I'm waiting for my man
 
[Verse 3]
E                A                       E   A
Here he comes, he's all dressed in black
E                A                       E   A
Beat up shoes and a big straw hat
E                    G#
He's never early, he's always late
A                      F#                     G# E
First thing you learn is you always gotta wait
 
[Verse  4]
E                A                           E   A
Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
E                A                           E   A
Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares
E                    G#
He's got the works, gives you sweet taste
A                                  F#                    G# E
Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste
E   A               E   A
I'm waiting for my man
 
[Verse 5]
E                       A                            E   A
Baby don't you holler, darlin' don't you bawl and shout
E                       A                            E   A
I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out
E                    G#
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine
A                          F#                  G# E
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
E   A               E   A
I'm waiting for my man
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4 comments
tstock8
Might just be my ears, but should it not go G sharp to A, rather than G sharp to A sharp? I think that's what they play on the Live Santa Monica '72 version.
+2
musicbook
The Velvet Underground tuned down their guitar, so you are correct to say their version sounded dark. In addition, David Bowie told Moby that he was playing this song and it lead him to his song Hero’s.
+1