Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Telling Stories" 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.

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

         Em                       C
There is fiction in the space between
     G                     D/F#
The lines on your page of memories
          Em                   C
Write it down, but it doesn't mean
        G                D/F#
You're not just telling stories

There is fiction in the space between
You and reality
You will do and say anything
To make your everyday life seem less mundane
There is fiction in the space between
You and me

There's a science fiction in the space between
You and me
A fabrication of a grand scheme
Where I am the scary monster
I eat the city and as I leave the scene
In my spaceship I am laughing
In your remembrance of your bad dream
There's no one but you standing

 D                          C
Leave the pity and the blame for
              G
the ones who do not speak
D
You write the words to get respect
                  C        Em
and compassion and for posterity
C                       Em
You write the words and make believe
           G           D/F#     Em
there is truth in the space between

There is fiction in the space between
You and everybody
Give us all what we need
Give us one more sad sordid story
But in the fiction of the space between

 G             D/F#                Em C
Sometimes a lie   is the best thing
 G             D/F#                Em C G D/F#
Sometimes a lie   is the best thing
                   Em C G D/F#
Oh, the best thing
                  Em C G D/F#
Is the best thing


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

F#

Guitar chord F#

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 "Telling Stories" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Telling Stories" by Tracy Chapman.