R.E.M. - The Outsiders: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Outsiders" on your guitar with our chord guide. 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.

Em                  D                   Em
You took me to the restaurant where we first met
Em                           D            Em
You knocked a future shock crowbar upside my head
Em                      D          G          A         Em
I got caught with the stop of the tick-tock, tick-tock clock
                   D       Em
When you told me what you knew
Em          D
Lost in the moment
     G            A     Em
The day that the music stopped
            D      Em
And I do remember you

C                                    D
Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
G             D      Em
Promising volcanic change of plot
C                               D
Where will this lead us - I'm scared of the storm
    Em             D            Em
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

I tried to tell you I am not afraid
You looked up and saw it all across my face
So am I with you or am I against?
I don't think it's that easy, we're lost in regret

Now I'm trying to remember thce feeling when the music stopped
When you told me what you knew
Lost in the moment the day that the music stopped
And I do remember you

Chorus - x2

     Em            D            Em
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born
     Em            D       Em
The outsiders are gathering

A man walks away when every muscle says to stay
How many yesterdays? They each weigh heavy
Who says what changes may come?
Who says what we call home?
I know you see right through me, my luminescence fades
The dusk provides an antidote, I am not afraid
I've been a million times in my mind
This is really just a technicality, frailty, reality
Uh, it's time to breathe, time to believe
Let it go and run towards the sea
They don't teach that, they don't know what you mean
They don't understand, they don't know what you mean
They don't get it, I wanna scream
I wanna breathe again, I wanna dream
I wanna float a quote from Martin Luther King
I am not afraid, I am not afraid,
I am not afraid
I am not afraid, I am not afraid,
I am not afraid, I am not afraid

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

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 "The Outsiders" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Outsiders" by R.E.M..

R.E.M. Song List