Billy Idol - Rita Hayworth: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Rita Hayworth" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn Rita Hayworth Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Billy Idol

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "Rita Hayworth" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

          C#m
We’re all actors
        E
I play you, you play me
         F#
in this scene of
              G#
wannabes and abusers
                C#m
‘Cause when the black hits
             E
there’s no available light left
          F#                     G#
You can’t offset the dark with illusions

        C#m                  E
You do rails of blow at the House Soho
          F#                            G#
and say “man, this place is so full of losers”
             C#m
And when you wait at the valet
  E
try to escape
          F#
you get a come on from
                 G#
some nothin’ producer
       C#m
And he says
        E
And he says
        F#  G#
And he says

Chorus:
     C#m            E
You look like Rita Hayworth
         F#             G#
From the pinup in a magazine
           C#m             E
I said you look like Rita Hayworth
            F#           G#
I know you know what he means
        C#m
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
           E
and this dream town will
             F#
swallow you whole
                     G#
You’re gonna need a bigger boat
        C#m
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
           E
and this dream town will
             F#
swallow you whole
                     G#
You’re gonna need a bigger boat

You found a star map
Lyin’ dead in the street
You tried to glue it but the holes were colossal
It’s all a rat trap
Full of beautiful thieves
Selling infamy with evil apostles

You know it’s time to leave this place
Sugar, this ain’t Oscar bait

Chorus:
You look like Rita Hayworth
From the pinup in a magazine
I said, you look like Rita Hayworth
I know you know what he means
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
And this dream town will swallow you whole
You’re gonna need a bigger boat
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
And this dream town will swallow you whole
You’re gonna need a bigger boat

You look like Rita Hayworth
From the pinup in a magazine
I said, you look like Rita Hayworth
I know you know what he means
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
And this dream town will swallow you whole
You’re gonna need a bigger boat
You’re swimmin’ with Jaws
And this dream town will swallow you whole
You’re gonna need a bigger boat

You’re gonna need a bigger boat
You’re gonna need a bigger boat


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

C#m

Guitar chord C#m

E

Guitar chord E

F#

Guitar chord F#

G#

Guitar chord G#

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Rita Hayworth" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Rita Hayworth" by Billy Idol.