Atap to play
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Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.
Atap to play
Etap to play
Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.
Atap to play
Etap to play
Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.
Atap to play
Etap to play
Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.
Atap to play
Etap to play
Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.
Atap to play
Etap to play
Bmtap to play
Dtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
A · E · Bm · D
The Cure’s iconic post-punk anthem about suppressed emotion and regret. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Downstroke Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a light, jangly strum to match the song’s original feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A
I would say I’m sorry
E
If I thought that it would change your mind
A
But I know that this time
E
I have said too much
Been too unkind
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Verse 2
A
I would break down at your feet
E
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
A
But I know that it’s too late now
E
And now there’s nothing I can do
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Bridge
A
I would tell you
E
That I loved you
A
If I thought that you would stay
E
But I know that it’s no use
D A
That you’ve already gone away
Verse 3
A
Misjudged your limits
E
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
A
I thought that you needed me more
E
More, more, more
Chorus
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Cover it all up with lies
A
I try to laugh about it
E
Hiding the tears in my eyes
D A
Because boys don’t cry
D A
Boys don’t cry
Practice tip: Master the simple A, E, and D chord changes before adding the strum pattern for a clean performance.