R.E.M. - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" 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 Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite 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 "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" smoothly on your guitar.

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

F                                        C
This here is the place where I will be staying
      F
There isn't a number, you can call the pay phone
 C                                    F
Let it ring a long, long, long, long time

If I don't pick up, hang up,
 Am                C             F C
call back, let it ring some more,
   F
If I don't pick up, pick up
                 C                          D
The sidewinder sleeps, sleeps, sleeps in a coil

Chorus:
 D                       G
Call me when you try to wake her up,
                         Am
call me when you try to wake her
 D                       G
Call me when you try to wake her up,
                         Am
call me when you try to wake her
 D                       G
Call me when you try to wake her up,
                        Am      C Em
call me when you try to wake her

There are scratches all around the coin slot
Like a heartbeat, baby trying to wake up
But this machine can only swallow money
You can't lay a patch by computer design
It's just a lot of stupid, stupid signs
Tell her
Tell her she can kiss my ass
Then laugh and say that you were only kidding
That way she'll know that it's really,
really, really, really me

Chorus

Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me
Today I need something more
sub-sub-sub-substantial
A can of beans or black-eyed peas,
some Nescafe and ice
A candy bar, a falling star,
or a reading from Doctor Seuss

Chorus

Bm
The cat in the hat came back,
  Am                           Bm
wreaked a lot of havoc on the way
                                Am
Always had a smile and a reason to pretend
              Bm
But their world has flat backgrounds
           Am                     C
and little need to sleep but to dream
                 Em
The sidewinder sleeps on his back

Chorus:
Call me when you try to wake her up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
Call me when you try to wake her up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
I can always sleep standing up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
Oh
Call me when you try to wake her up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
Call me when you try to wake her up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
I can always sleep standing up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
Oh

[Outro]
Call me when you try to wake her up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
I can always sleep standing up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
I can always sleep standing up
(Call me when you try to wake her)
We've got to boogie, boogie, move on this one


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

Am

Guitar chord Am

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

F

Guitar chord F

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

R.E.M. Song List