Billy Joel - Close to the Borderline: Guitar Chords
Learn to play "Close to the Borderline" 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.
Navigate quickly to the section you need:
- Chords and Lyrics - Jump straight to the song's lyrics and chord overlay.
- Chord Diagrams and Key Transposition - Access chord diagrams and learn how to transpose the key of the song to suit your voice.
Learn Close to the Borderline Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Billy Joel
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 "Close to the Borderline" smoothly on your guitar.
For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.
A C Blackout, heatwave, .44 caliber homicide G The bums drop dead and dogs go mad D In packs on the West Side A Young girl standing on a ledge looks like another C suicide G She wants to hit those bricks D Cause the news at six gotta stick to a deadline E F#m While the millionaires hide in Beekman Place D A The bag ladies throw their bones in my face E F#m I get attacked by a kid with stereo sound D A I don't want to hear it but he won't turn it down E F#7sus4 Life is tough but it's just enough F# E D To hold back the tears until it's closing time Chorus: A D I survived, I'm still alive E But I'm getting close to the borderline A D G A D G Aha Close to the borderline Huh Aha A buck three eighty Won't buy you much lately on the street these days And when you can get gas You know you can't drive fast anymore on the parkways Rich man, poor man, either way American Shoved into the lost and found The no nuke yell we're gonna all go to hell With the next big meltdown I got remote control and a color T.V I don't change channels so they must change me I got real close friends that will get me high They don't know how to talk and they ain't gonna try I shouldn't bitch, I shouldn't cry I'd start a revolution but I don't have time Chorus: I don't know why I'm still a nice guy But I'm getting closer to the borderline Close to the borderline C#m D I thought I'd sacrifice so many things C#m E I thought I'd throw them all away C#m F#m I didn't think I needed anything E D E But you can't afford to squander what you're not prepared to pay I need a doctor for my pressure pills I need a lawyer for my medical bills I need a banker to finance my home I need security to back my loan It isn't new what I'm going through But everybody knows you got to break sometime Another night I fought the good fight But I'm getting closer to the borderline Close to the borderline You can simplify chords by removing barre | TransposeReset Font SizeReset Guitar Chord DiagramsA  C  C#m  D  E  F#  F#7sus4  F#m  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 "Close to the Borderline" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Close to the Borderline" by Billy Joel.