Van Morrison - Not Supposed to Break Down: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Not Supposed to Break Down" 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 Not Supposed to Break Down Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Van Morrison

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 "Not Supposed to Break Down" smoothly on your guitar.

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

                             Em A
You're not supposed to be human
                               D
You're not supposed to really feel
                             Em A
Not supposed to get involved with
                     D Bm
Anything completely real
                  F#m
Fifteen families starving
G     A                 D
All around the corner block
Bm            F#m
Here we're standing so alone
      G  A           D
Just like Gibraltar Rock

Chorus:
D                 Em
Not supposed to break down
A                        D
You're not supposed to break down
Swallow the dirt
Em
Keep listening to the hurt
A                   D
You'll be safe and sound

Supposed to be super human
Cover everything
Just like a bird
Cover an egg with its wing
And knowing there's nothing sacred
And what is the use
No point trying to find
What is worth, what is true

Chorus:
Not supposed to break down (No)
You're not supposed to break down
Swallow the hurt
Listen to the dirt
And you'll be safe and sound
You're not supposed to break down
You're not supposed to break down
Swallow the hurt
Listen to the dirt
You'll be safe and sound

A fool and his mainline connection
Bypass going to the well
But that doesn't matter anymore
And I'm sure that we can tell
Who's a puppet on a string
And who really holds the glove
But it ain't up to you and me
It's up to the Lord above

Chorus:
You're not supposed to break down
You're not supposed to break down
Swallow the hurt
Keep on listening to the dirt
And I'll bet you'll be safe and sound
You're not supposed to break down
You're not supposed to break down
Swallow the hurt
Listen to the dirt
I'll bet you'll be safe and sound

And I'll bet you'll be safe and sound
And I'll bet you'll be safe and sound
I'll bet you'll be safe and sound


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

Bm

Guitar chord Bm

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

F#m

Guitar chord F#m

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 "Not Supposed to Break Down" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Not Supposed to Break Down" by Van Morrison.

Van Morrison Song List