Rush - Totem: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Totem" 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 Totem Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Rush

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 "Totem" smoothly on your guitar.

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

          A#                     Gm
I've got twelve disciples and a Buddha smile
F                    D#
The Garden of Allah, Viking Valhalla
   F                 Dm  C A#
A miracle once in a while
A#                                Gm
I've got a pantheon of animals in a pagan soul

F               D#
Vishnu and Gaea Aztec and Maya
F                Dm       C
Dance around my totem pole
       A# C A# C
Totem pole

G    C
I believe in what I see
                     A#
I believe in what I hear
     C
I believe that what I'm feeling
                         Gm
Changes how the world appears
         A#      F        C
Oh oh oh-oh oh  Oh oh oh-oh oh-oh oh

Chorus:
Gm                           A#
Angels and demons dancing in my head
              F             C
Lunatics and monsters underneath my bed
Gm                     C
Media messiahs preying on my fears
             D#              F     A#
Pop culture prophets playing in my ears
Gm          C   D#          F     A# F D# F
Oh oh oh-oh oh  Oh oh oh-oh oh-oh oh

I've got celestial mechanics
To synchronize my stars
Seasonal migrations, daily variations
World of the unlikely and bizarre

I've got idols and icons, unspoken holy vows
Thoughts to keep well-hidden
Sacred and forbidden
Free to browse among the holy cows
That's why I believe

I believe in what I see
I believe in what I hear
I believe that what I'm feeling
Changes how the world appears

Chorus:
Angels and demons dancing in my head
Lunatics and monsters underneath my bed
Media messiahs preying on my fears
Pop culture prophets playing in my ears

Angels and demons dancing in my head
Lunatics and monsters underneath my bed
Media messiahs preying on my fears
Pop culture prophets playing in my ears

Gm    C     A#       C        Gm
Angels and demons inside of me
 C    A#     C          Gm      C
Saviors and satans all around me
A#    C         Gm       C
Angels and demons inside of me
A#          C F G F G F
All around me

I believe in what I see
I believe in what I hear
I believe that what I'm feeling
Oh oh oh-oh oh  Oh oh oh-oh oh-oh oh

Chorus:
Angels and demons dancing in my head
Lunatics and monsters underneath my bed
Angels and demons dancing in my head
Lunatics and monsters underneath my bed

Sweet chariot, swing low, coming for me


You can simplify chords by removing barre

Transpose

Reset

Font Size

Reset

Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

A#

Guitar chord A#

C

Guitar chord C

Dm

Guitar chord Dm

D#

Guitar chord D#

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord G

Gm

Guitar chord Gm

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 "Totem" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Totem" by Rush.

Rush Song List