R.E.M. - I Wanted To Be Wrong: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "I Wanted To Be Wrong" 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 I Wanted To Be Wrong Guitar Chords and Lyrics by R.E.M.

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 "I Wanted To Be Wrong" smoothly on your guitar.

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

  E             B7sus4
You know where I come from
  E             B7sus4
You know what I feel
  E               B7sus4
You're Yul Brenner Westworld
   E                B7
Reporting from the field
     E           B7sus4
I threw it into reverse
        E          B7sus4
Made a motion to repeal
     E                  B7
You kicked my legs from under me
      E
And tried to take the wheel

Chorus:
A             B
I told you I wanted to be wrong
A               Bsus4
But everyone is humming a song
A                 B7sus4
That I don't understand

Now I know that the sun has
shined on my side of the street
The basket of America,
the weevils and the wheat
The milk and honeyed congregation,
scrubbed and apple-cheeked
Salute Apollo 13 from
the rattle jewelry seats

Chorus

The rodeo is staged,
gold circle goat-ropers and clowns
A rumble in the third act,
tie 'em up and burn 'em down
We're armed to the teeth,
born a little breech
Blue-plate special analysts,
cells and SUV's
We can't approach the Allies
cause they seem a little peeved
And speak a language
we don't understand

Chorus

Storm into the boardroom
of the conquering elite
Did you recognize the madman
who is shouting in the streets?
Destroy the things that
I don't understand
Destroy the things that
I don't understand


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

E

Guitar chord E

B

Guitar chord B

Bsus4

Guitar chord Bsus4

B7

Guitar chord B7

B7sus4

Guitar chord B7sus4

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 "I Wanted To Be Wrong" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "I Wanted To Be Wrong" by R.E.M..

R.E.M. Song List