Title: The Winner Takes It All
Artist: ABBA
Transcribed in friendly G, ABBA's recording is in F#, however.
To match the key of the recording:
- transpose this chord sheet -1 to F# or
- tune down the guitar on step to Eb-Ab-Db-G-Bb-Eb or
- transpose this chord sheet -2 to F and use a capo 1st fret
- transpose this chord sheet -5 to D and use a capo 4th fret (my preferred option)
Novice players may leave out the slash chords (see voicings below) and just
play the regular shapes (E7 instead of E7/G#, D instead of D/F# etc.).
SPECIAL CHORDS
G-shapes D-shapes (transpose -5) F-shapes (transpose -2)
E-A-D-G-B-e E-A-D-G-B-e E-A-D-G-B-e
E7/G# 4-x-0-1-0-0 B7/D# x-x-1-2-0-2 D7/F# 2-x-0-2-1-2
D/F# 2-x-0-2-3-2 A/C# x-4-2-2-2-0 C/E x-x-2-0-1-0
Am/E 0-x-2-2-1-0 Em/B x-2-x-0-0-0 Gm/D x-x-0-3-3-3
[Intro] / [Chorus] and [Bridge]
Transpose -5 to D + capo 4
D D F#7 Bm Bm B7/D#
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----3-----2-----|0---------------|----0-----------|----------------|
B|----3-----3-----|3-----3---------|----------3-----|2-----0---------|
G|2---2-----2-----|2-----3---------|4---4-----4-----|4-----2---------|
D|0---------------|------4---------|4---------------|4-----1---------|
A|----------------|----------------|2---------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Em A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----5-----3-----|2-----0---------|----------------|----------------|
B|----0-----0-----|0-----0---------|----3-----2-----|0---------------|
G|0---0-----0-----|0-----0---------|2---2-----2-----|2-----2---------|
D|----------------|----------------|2---------------|2-----2---------|
A|2---------------|----------------|0---------------|0-----0---------|
E|0---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Intro
| [G] | [G] [B7] | [Em] | [Em] [E7/G#] |
| [Am] | % | [D] | % |
| [G] | [G] [B7] | [Em] | [Em] [E7/G#] |
| [Am] | % | [D] | % |
Verse
[G]
I don't wanna talk
[D/F#]
About things we've gone through
[Am/E]
Though it's hurting me
[D]
Now it's history
[G]
I've played all my cards
[D/F#]
And that's what you've done too
[Am/E]
Nothing more to say
[D]
No more ace to play
Chorus
[G]
The winner takes it all
[B7] [Em]
The loser standing small
[E7/G#] [Am]
Beside the victory
[D]
That's her destiny
Verse
[G]
I was in your arms
[D/F#]
Thinking I belonged there
[Am/E]
I figured it made sense
[D]
Building me a fence
[G]
Building me a home
[D/F#]
Thinking I'd be strong there
[Am/E]
But I was a fool
[D]
Playing by the rules
Bridge
[G]
The gods may throw a dice
[B7] [Em]
Their minds as cold as ice
[E7/G#] [Am]
And someone way down here
[D]
Loses someone dear
Chorus
[G]
The winner takes it all
[B7] [Em]
The loser has to fall
[E7/G#] [Am]
It's simple and it's plain
[D]
Why should I complain?
Verse
[G]
But tell me does she kiss
[D/F#]
Like I used to kiss you?
[Am/E]
Does it feel the same
[D]
When she calls your name?
[G]
Somewhere deep inside
[D/F#]
You must know I miss you
[Am/E]
But what can I say
[D]
Rules must be obeyed
Bridge 2
[G]
The judges will decide
[B7] [Em]
The likes of me abide
[E7/G#] [Am]
Spectators of the show
[D]
Always staying low
Bridge 3
[G]
The game is on again
[B7] [Em]
A lover or a friend
[E7/G#] [Am]
A big thing or a small
[D]
The winner takes it all
Verse
[G]
I don't wanna talk
[D/F#]
If it makes you feel sad
[Am/E]
And I understand
[D]
You've come to shake my hand
[G]
I apologize
[D/F#]
If it makes you feel bad
[Am/E]
Seeing me so tense
[D]
No self-confidence, but you see …Z
Outro
| [G] | [G] [B7] | [Em] | [Em] [E7/G#] |
The winner takes it all
[ [E7/G#] ] | [Am] | % | [D] | % |
The winner takes it all ...
[G] [B7] [Em] [Em] [E/G#]
So the winner takes it a -all
[Am] [D]
And the loser has to fall
[G] [B7] [Em] [Em] [E/G#]
Throw a di-ice, cold as ice
[Am] [D]
Way down here, someone dear
[G] [B7] [Em] [Em] [E/G#]
Takes it a-all, has to fall
[Am] [D]
It seems plain to me ...
(fade out over last lines)
