The Rolling Stones - Live By The Sword: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Live By The Sword" 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 Live By The Sword Guitar Chords and Lyrics by The Rolling Stones

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 "Live By The Sword" smoothly on your guitar.

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

        E
If you live by the sword, gonna die by the sword
        A
If you live by the gun, you gonna die by the gun
        E
If you live for the knife, well,
you’re gonna get stabbed
 A
Run into the law, well, you’re gonna get nabbed
        E
If you live for revenge, gonna feel the backlash
        A
If you live to be cruel, gonna bite you in the ass

Chorus:
B           A        E
I’m gonna treat you right
B           A        E
I’m gonna treat you good

If you wanna get rich, better sit on the board
If you wanna be poor, better pay the landlord
If you’re deep in the crime, well,
you’re deep in the slime
If you’re living a lie, look me straight in the eye
If you’re locked in the jail, well,
you better get free
If you’re looking for love, don’t go running to me

Chorus:
B           A        E
I’m gonna treat you right
B           A         E
I’m gonna treat you good

          D                  C#m
It’s too late to say you’re sorry, sorry, sorry
     B               D                       E  A
And soon it will be gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

If you live like a whore, better be hardcore
If you live by the clock,
well, you’re in for a shock
If you’re living for food,
better lick up your plate
If you wanna be in fashion,
well, you’ll be out of date

Chorus:
I’m gonna treat you right
I’m gonna treat you good
I’m gonna treat you right
I’m gonna treat you good

Oh, if you live by the sword, oh yeah
Get shot up, you better call 911
And then you better hang out
until the ambulance comes
If you live by the sword
Gonna die by the sword, oh yeah
If you die by the sword
If you live by the gun
If you live by the gun
If you live by the gun, gonna die by the gun
Oh yeah
Oh yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

B

Guitar chord B

C#m

Guitar chord C#m

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

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 "Live By The Sword" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Live By The Sword" by The Rolling Stones.

The Rolling Stones Song List