The Rolling Stones

Waiting On A Friend(Chords)

The Rolling Stones

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Key: C

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	        C     F     C     F     ;(intro; repeat to taste) 
 
                         (don't forget to play only the C bass note) 
 
                         (for the first beat of the first/third meas.) 
 
 
 
 Am                      F             G                          C 
 
   Watchin' girls go passing by         It ain't the latest thing 
 
 
 
 G                          C             
 
I'm just standin' in a doorway 
 
 
 
 G                                 C            
 
I'm just trying to make some sense 
 
 
 
  $ 
 
   Am                            F        G                       C 
 
1. Out of these girls        passing by, the tales they tell of men 
 
 
 
 G                     C            
 
I'm not waiting on a lady                     
 
 
 
 G                           C          (return to $ for second verse) 
 
I'm just waiting on a friend 
 
 
 
2. A smile relieves a heart that grieves, 
 
   remember what I said. 
 
   I'm not waiting on a lady, 
 
   I'm just waiting on a friend. 
 
 
 
(after second verse, this bridge:) 
 
 
 
               C         F                   C 
 
... on a friend       I'm just waiting on a friend 
 
 
 
 F                  C                F                   C 
 
 just waiting on a friend.        I'm just waiting on a friend, 
 
 
 
     F                 C         F                  C     
 
I'm just waiting on a friend,     just waiting on a friend 
 
 
 
(instrumental for 16 bars, just alternating F and C, one measure each, and  
 
soloing away, then return to '$' for the last two verses) 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Don't need a whore, don't need now booze, 
 
   don't need a virgin priest. 
 
   But I need some one I can cry to, 
 
   I need someone to protect. 
 
 
 
4.  Ooh, making love and breaking hearts, 
 
    It is a game for youth. 
 
    But I'm not waiting on a lady, 
 
    I'm just waiting on a friend. 
 
 
 
(repeat bridge, fade instrumental...) 
 
 
 
This song is excellent fun to play... hope the notation is not too cryptic. 
 
Don't forget to emphasize the 'C' bass note in the intro and bridge... 
 
 
 
Here's another hint to help you get that strummed melody at the 
 
beginning: 
 
 
 
         Cadd9  Dm Fmaj7 
 
e--------------------0--- 
 
B-------3-3-3-3---3--1--- 
 
G-------0-0-0-0---2--2--- 
 
D-------2-2-2-2---3--3--- 
 
A-2h3---3-3-3-3------3--- 
 
E------------------------ 
 
 
 
-- 
 
jonathan byrd 
 
[email protected] 
 
 
 
>From: [email protected] (Wade Blomgren) 
 
Subject: Re: REQ: 'Waiting on a Friend', Stones 
 
 
 
In an article, [email protected] (patrick m. ryan) writes: 
 
>  
 
>       Anyone got chords to this one?  I know the first two 
 
> chords are Csus2 and F.   
 
 
 
The first two chords are the Csus2 and a Dm that sneaks in 
 
for one strum before the F. 
 
 
 
Hope this helps. 
 
 
 
Wade Blomgren 
 
[email protected] 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
Waiting on a Friend (Jagger/Richards)  
 
gleaned from the album 'Tattoo You' by The Rolling Stones (1981): 
 
 
 
Intro: 
 
Csus2 (x4)  Dm F {repeat, with 'doo doo' vocals, piano solo} 
 
 
 
Am              F            G                   C 
 
Watchin girls a-passin' by   It ain't the latest thing 
 
G                      C        G                            C 
 
I'm just standin' in a doorway  I'm just tryin' to make some sense 
 
 
 
Am                   F                G                   C 
 
out of these girls a-passin' by...the tales they tell of men 
 
G                      C        G                     C 
 
I'm not waitin' on a lady       I'm just waiting on a friend 
 
 
 
Am                   F                     G               C 
 
A smile relieves the heart that bleeds     remember what I said 
 
G                    C      G                     C 
 
I'm not waitin' on a lady   I'm just waiting on a friend 
 
 
 
Csus2  Dm F {repeat, sax solo followed by ad lib-ish 'doo doo'} 
 
(repeat 'I'm just waiting on a friend' on F) 
 
 
 
Am                   F                     G                   C 
 
Don't need a whore I don't need no booze - don't need a virgin priest 
 
G                        C         G                 C 
 
But I need someone I can cry to    I need someone to protect 
 
 
 
Am             F                G                C                       
 
Makin love and breakin hearts - it is a game for youth 
 
G                        C      G                    C 
 
but I'm not waiting on a lady...I'm just waitin on a friend 
 
 
 
Csus2  Dm F {repeat, more sax solo followed by ad lib 'doo doo'} 
 
(just waitin on a friend) 
 
 
 
fade 
 
 
 
 
 
>From: [email protected] (L'Angelo Misterioso) 
 
Subject: TAB: Waiting On a Friend (Stones) 
 
 
 
I don't know the whole song, but I know some bits. Here's the  
 
opening: 
 
 
 
  Cadd9  F 
 
--0-0-0-0--1-----1-------- 
 
--3-3-3-3--1-----1-------- 
 
--0-0-0-0--2-----2-------- 
 
--2-2-2-2--3--x--3--3----- 
 
--3-3-3-3-------------2-3- 
 
-------------------------- 
 
 
 
8 times 
 
 
 
(I haven't figured out the verse yet) 
 
 
 
This part is in the bridge, after 'I'm just standing in a doorway', and 
 
after 'I'm just trying to make some sense': 
 
 
 
  Cadd9 C  
 
--0-0-0---0- 
 
--3-3-3---1- 
 
--0-0-0---0- 
 
--2-2-2---2- 
 
--3-3-3---3- 
 
------------ 
 
 
 
I hope this is a good start. I play along with the tape, and it sounds  
 
accurate.....maybe with a couple transfusions I could figure out the rest :) 
 
 
 
mike 
 
 
 
 

	        

Written by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger

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