Queen - The Show Must Go On: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Show Must Go On" 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 The Show Must Go On Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Queen

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 "The Show Must Go On" smoothly on your guitar.

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

       Bm
Empty spaces - what are we living for
            G
abandoned places - I guess we know the score
Em              F#                        Em
on and on, does anybody know what we are looking for?
        Bm
Another hero, another mindless crime
            G
behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Em                  F#                      Em
hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?

Chorus:
                 Bm                   G
The show must go on, the show must go on, yeah,
   Em
inside my heart is breaking
   F#
my make-up may be flaking
        Em           Bm
but my smile still stays on.

         C#m
Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
         A
another heartache, another failed romance
F#m             G#                       F#m
on and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
            C#m
I guess I'm learning, I must be warmer now,
              A
I'll soon be turning, round the corner now
F#m
outside the dawn is breaking
    G#                                  F#m  Em
but inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.

Chorus

    F       G                Em              Am G
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
 F             G              Em             Am
fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die
C#m7-5       D
I can fly - my friends.

Chorus:
                 Bm                   G
The show must go on, the show must go on, yeah,
      Em
I'll face it with a grin
    F#
I'm never giving in
Em
on - with the show.

      Em
I'll top the bill, I'll overkill,
   F#                            Em
I have to find the will to carry on.
                 Bm
The show must go on.


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

Am

Guitar chord Am

C#m

Guitar chord C#m

C#m7

Guitar chord C#m7

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

F

Guitar chord F

F#

Guitar chord F#

F#m

Guitar chord F#m

G

Guitar chord G

G#

Guitar chord G#

Bm

Guitar chord Bm

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 "The Show Must Go On" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Show Must Go On" by Queen.

Queen Song List