Show Must Go On

"The Show Must Go On"

By: Queen

Album: Innuendo

Tabbed by: Peter Simmonds

Notes:

While this tune is definitely a piece for electric guitars, I usually prefer to play it

an acoustic guitar. There's plenty of opportunity to add frills and I've tried to give

names to the chords I use (which can be found at the bottom of the page. Some of the

are trickier to hit than I usually try for but they do give a fuller sound. Feel free

skip or add bits if you think it'll help.

Intro (7 bars):

|Bm Bsus2 |Bsus4 Bm |G G11# |Em/G

|Em7 Em6 |F#sus4 F# |Em

|

Verse 1 (14 bars):

(A#dim/E) Bm Bsus2 Bsus4 Bm

Empty spaces, what are we living for?

G G11# Em/G G

Abandoned places. I guess we know the score.

Em7 Em6 F#sus4 F# Em

A#dim/E

On and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for?

Bm Bsus2 Bsus4 Bm

Another hero. Another mindless crime.

G G11# Em/G G

Behind the curtain. In the pantomime.

Em7 Em6 F#sus4 F#

G

Hold the line. Does anybody want to take it anymore?

Chorus (8 bars):

(G) Bm Bsus2 Bsus4 Bm

The show must go on...

G G11# Em/G G

The show must go on...

Em7 Em6

Inside, my heart is breaking.

F#sus4 F# Em

Bm (N.C.)

My makeup may be flaking but my smile still stays on.

Verse 2 (16 bars):

C#m C#sus2 C#sus4 C#m

Whatever happens, I leave it all to chance.

A A11# F#m/A A

Another heartache. Another failed romance.

F#m7 F#m6 G#sus4 G#

Cdim/F#

On and on. Does anybody know what we are living for?

C#m C#sus2 C#sus4 C#m

I guess I'm learning. I must be warmer now.

A A11# F#m/A A

I'll soon be turning round the corner now.

F#m7 F#m6

Outside the dawn is breaking,

G#sus4 G# F#m

Em

but inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.

Chorus (8 bars)

Guitar break (6 bars):

(Bm) (Bsus2) |Bsus4 Bm |G G11#

G |Em7 Em6 |F#sus4 F# |Em

|

Ad lib "Yeah", "Ooh", etc.

Verse 3 (6 bars):

F G/F Em Am Cmaj7/G

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies.

F G/F Em7 Am

Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die.

C#m7b5 A7/C# Dsus4 D

I can fly, my friends.

Final Chorus (7 bars):

(D) Bm Bsus2 Bsus4 Bm

The show must go on. Yeah...

G G11# Em/G G

The show must go on.

Em7 Em6 F#sus4 F#

I'll face it with a grin. I'm never giving in.

Em A#dim/E

On with the show.

Outro (16 bars):

|Bm Bsus2 |Bsus4 Bm |G G11# |Em/G

|

(G) Em7 Em6

Ooh, I'll top the bill. I'll overkill.

F#sus4 F# Em Em7

A#dim/E

I have the find the will to carry on... (with the, on with the)

Em7 Bm Bsus2...

show.

(fade out)

N.B.: The original track fades out on a Bsus4 but when playing live, I usually resolve

Bsus2 into a Bm.

Suggested chord shapes:

EADGBE

Bm 224432

Bsus2 224422

Bsus4 224400

G 320003

G11# 320023

Em/G 322000

Em7 022030

Em6 022020

F#sus4 244422

F# 244322

Em 022000

A#dim/E 012020

C#m 446654

C#sus2 446644

C#sus4 446674

A X02220

A11# X01220

F#m/A X04222

F#m7 244252

F#m6 244242

G#sus4 466644

G# 466544

F#m 244222

Cdim/F# 234242

C#dim/F# 212020

Edim XX2323

F 133211

G/F 120003

Am X02210

Cmaj7/G 432000

C#m7b5 X42000

A7/C# X42020

Dsus4 XX0233