The A Team by Ed Sheeran
[final revision - thanks to all contributors before]
Notes:
(1) the original key for this song is A, so you can either play the chords with a
capo on the 2nd fret, which allows for nice open chords in G, C, Em, Am and D positions,
or play in the key of A directly
(2) to make it easy for you, I wrote the song twice, once in the key of A and once
in the key of G, assuming a capo on the second fret; but you can just play it in G
without a capo too and it may suit your voice better
(3) the arrangement uses passing chords which I put in parenthesis such as (E/G#)
or (D/F#) [or in the key of G (D/F#) or (C)]; these are as they sound, used in passing
and are not absolutely necessary, as you will find if you play along with the song
(4) this song is a little tricky to notate matching the lyrics, chords and rhythm,
so it is pretty important to listen along to get the timing right
KEY OF A
Intro (chords only)
A (D/F#) A (E/G#)
F#m (D/F#) A..
A (E/G#)
White lips, pale face, breathing in
F#m (D/F#)
snowflakes, burnt lungs, sour
A (E/G#)
taste...
A (E/G#)
Light's gone, day's end, struggling to
F#m (D/F#)
pay rent, long nights, strange
A
men...
Bm D
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
A
Stuck in her daydream,
E
Been this way since 18, but lately,
Bm D
Her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
A
Crumbling like pastries, And they scream,
E
The worst things in life come free to us,
F#m D
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
A
And go mad for a couple of grams,
F#m D
And she don't want to go
A
outside tonight,
F#m D
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
A
Or sells love to another man,
F#m D
It's too cold outside,
A (E/G#)
..For angels to
F#m D
fly,
A (E/G#)
... Angels to
F#m D
fly,
A (E/G#)
...
A (E/G#)
Ripped gloves, raincoat, tried to swim and
F#m (D/F#)
stay afloat, dry house, wet
A (E/G#)
clothes...
A (E/G#)
Loose change, bank notes, weary-eyed, dry
F#m (D/F#)
throat, call girl, no
A
phone...
Bm D
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
A
Stuck in her daydream,
E
Been this way since 18, but lately
Bm D
her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
A
Crumbling like pastries, and they scream,
E
The worst things in life come free to us,
F#m D
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
A
And go mad for a couple of grams,
F#m D
And she don't want to go
A
outside tonight,
F#m D
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
A
Or sells love to another man,
F#m D
It's too cold outside,
A
..For angels to
Bm D
fly, an angel will die.
F#m…
Covered in white, closed eye, and
A
hoping for a better life,
Bm D
This time, we'll fade out tonight,
Straight down the
Instrumental break:
F#m D
Line...
A (E/G#)
..
F#m D
..
A
..
Bm D
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
A
Stuck in her daydream,
E
Been this way since 18, but lately,
Bm D
her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
A
Crumbling like pastries, and they scream,
E
The worst things in life come free to us,
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/e/ed_sheeran/the_a_team_crd_ver_13.html ]
F#m D
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
A
And go mad for a couple of grams,
F#m D
And she don't want to go
A
outside tonight,
F#m D
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
A
Or sells love to another man,
F#m D
It's too cold outside,
A
..For angels to
F#m D
fly,
A (E/G#)
... Angels to
F#m D
fly,
A (E/G#)
...
F#m D
To fly, to fly
A (E/G#)
.. Angels to
F#m D
Fly, to fly, to
A (E/G#)
Fly... Angels to
A
Die.
KEY OF G (capo on 2nd fret, if desired):
Intro (chords only)
G (C) G (D/F#)
Em (C) G..
G (D/F#)
White lips, pale face, breathing in
Em (C)
snowflakes, burnt lungs, sour
G (D/F#)
taste...
G (D/F#)
Light's gone, day's end, struggling to
Em (C)
pay rent, long nights, strange
G
men...
Am C
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
G
Stuck in her daydream,
D
Been this way since 18, but lately,
Am C
Her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
G
Crumbling like pastries, And they scream,
D
The worst things in life come free to us,
Em C
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
G
And go mad for a couple of grams,
Em C
And she don't want to go
G
outside tonight,
Em C
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
G
Or sells love to another man,
Em C
It's too cold outside,
G (D/F#)
..For angels to
Em C
fly,
G (D/F#)
... Angels to
Em C
fly,
G (D/F#)
...
G (D/F#)
Ripped gloves, raincoat, tried to swim and
Em (C)
stay afloat, dry house, wet
G (D/F#)
clothes...
G (D/F#)
Loose change, bank notes, weary-eyed, dry
Em (C)
throat, call girl, no
G (D/F#)
phone...
Am C
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
G
Stuck in her daydream,
D
Been this way since 18, but lately
Am C
her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
G
Crumbling like pastries, and they scream,
D
The worst things in life come free to us,
Em C
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
G
And go mad for a couple of grams,
Em C
And she don't want to go
G
outside tonight,
Em C
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
G
Or sells love to another man,
Em C
It's too cold outside,
G
..For angels to
Am C
fly, an angel will die.
Em…
Covered in white, closed eye, and
G
hoping for a better life,
Am C
This time, we'll fade out tonight,
Straight down the
Instrumental break:
Em C
Line...
G (D/F#)
..
Em C
..
G
..
Am C
And they say she's in the Class A Team,
G
Stuck in her daydream,
D
Been this way since 18, but lately,
Am C
her face seems slowly sinking, wasting,
G
Crumbling like pastries, and they scream,
D
The worst things in life come free to us,
Em C
Cos we're just under the upperhand,
G
And go mad for a couple of grams,
Em C
And she don't want to go
G
outside tonight,
Em C
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
G
Or sells love to another man,
Em C
It's too cold outside,
G
..For angels to
Em C
fly,
G (D/F#)
... Angels to
Em C
fly,
G (D/F#)
...
Em C
To fly, to fly
G (D/F#)
.. Angels to
Em C
Fly, to fly, to
G (D/F#)
Fly... Angels to
G
Die.
* If you did or said something wrong to somebody, you know it, own up to it and
apologize, make it easy - it will bring you peace. If someone did or said something wrong to
you, chances are it wasn't you they meant to hurt, but something or somebody else,
so let it go and forget it, it will bring you peace. Remember those two rules and we'll ALL have
some more freakin' peace around here! Peace!
