Chords + Lyrics | Last Christmas
Intro
| Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 (D6) |
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B (Bm) |
| Bm7/E Em7 | Bm7/E (Em7) |
| A13sus4 A7 | A13sus4 (A7) |
Chorus 1
||: Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 D6 |
||: Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B Bm |
But the very next day you gave it away.
| Bm7/E Em7 | Bm7/E Em7 |
This year, to save me from tears.
| A13sus4 A7 | A13sus4 A7 :||
I’ll give it to someone special. :||
Instrumental 1
| Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 D6 |
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B Bm |
| Bm7/E Em7 | Bm7/E Em7 |
| A13sus4 A7 | A13sus4 A7 |
Verse 1
| Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 D6 |
Once bitten and twice shy.
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B Bm |
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye.
| Bm7/E Em7 | Bm7/E Em7 |
Tell me baby, do you recognize me?
| A13sus4 A7 | A13sus4 A7 |
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me.
Verse 2
(Merry Christmas) I wrapped it up and sent it.
With a note saying “I love you”, I meant it.
Now I know what a fool I’ve been.
But if you kissed me now I know you’d fool me again.
Chorus 2
||: Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears.
I’ll give it to someone special. :||
Instrumental 2
Oh, oh, baby.
Verse 3
A crowded room friends with tired eyes.
I’m hiding from you and your soul of ice.
My god I thought you were someone to rely on.
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.
Verse 4
But a face on a lover with a fire in his heart.
A man under cover, but you tore me apart.
Oh, oh, now I’ve found a real love.
You’ll never fool me again.
Chorus 3
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears.
I’ll give it to someone special, special.
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart (I gave you my heart).
But the very next day you gave it away (you gave it away).
This year, to save me from tears (oh, oh).
I’ll give it to someone special (special).
Verse 5
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart. (I gave you my heart).
A man under cover but you tore him apart.
Maybe next year.
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special.
Outro
| Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 D6 |
Special.
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B Bm | fade
Someone…
Last Christmas Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Last Christmas. I’ve used stem separation to remove and tame some production while keeping the drums, bass, keys, and vocals intact.
There is also one version completely without keyboards available.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 441Hz. In the backing tracks, I’ve done this job for you by tuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
If you believe everything you read on the internet, the Last Christmas chords are simply I – VI – II – V, with a min7 extension on the II chord, like this in the key of D:
||: D | D | Bm | Bm |
| Em7 | Em7 | A | A :||
While this simplified version might be floating around, I get excited because it gives me the chance to show that there’s more to the Last Christmas chords than that basic progression. Whether playing in a band or here online, I know there are extended chords to consider.
Here’s what’s actually happening:
- The D chord moves between maj9 and 6.
- The Bm is a slash chord, F#m7 over Bm (or Bm7 if you’re on the keyboard). The notes are the same as a D chord, but with a different bass.
- This concept is then shifted to E, so you get Bm7/E to Em7.
- Finally, we move between A13sus4 to A7.
Putting all these ideas together gives us this chord progression for Last Christmas:
| Dmaj9 D6 | Dmaj9 (D6) |
| F#m7/B Bm | F#m7/B (Bm) |
| Bm7/E Em7 | Bm7/E (Em7) |
| A13sus4 A7 | A13sus4 (A7) |
You’ll notice I’ve placed the second chord in brackets in the second bar. This is because, in the first bar, we play the first chord for two beats and the second for two beats. In the second bar, we move between the chords a few times.
You’ll need TAB to really understand this, keep scrolling down this guitar lesson to find it.
There’s no guitar in the original recording, so I transcribed the keyboard part and adapted it to guitar TAB, designing a live band-friendly part.
Once you understand the concept, a simple chord chart is all you need, since the chords in Last Christmas loop endlessly.
Last Christmas Chords | PDF + iReal Pro
Last Christmas | TAB
What’s nearly impossible is playing the keyboard part on the guitar. Here it is in TAB—give it a go, but know this is only the first step. It will get easier!
When I first started transcribing this, I thought maybe it could be done without a keyboard player—just in case they got stuck in a snowstorm, the guitar could cover it.
Having attempted it, I have to say—we really need that keyboard. It’s just so hard to pull off on the guitar.
Let’s simplify it by removing one string and zooming in on the most important notes. Here’s what that looks like in TAB.
This is now playable, although it doesn’t sound amazing. Still, I think you should practise this along with the backing tracks.
OK, now let’s create a part that complements the keyboard instead. We’ll keep the same chords and, crucially, maintain the placement of the extensions so it locks in with the original part.
Here’s idea 1:
Try playing this along with the backing tracks to hear how it fits around the vocal.
Here’s idea 2:
Practise both these ideas and you’ll soon be able to blend them, develop your own variations, and even improvise your rhythm part—ideal if you’ve landed a month-long Christmas gig!
Finally, since the keyboard is so busy playing the main part, we could also take over the instrumental melody. Here it is in TAB:
I’ve noted the intervals in relation to the chords and bass notes—this is useful if you want to write hits or move the line to another area of the fretboard.
From 80s Hit to Christmas Standard: The Enduring Success of Last Christmas
Last Christmas is one of the most successful and enduring festive pop songs ever recorded. Released in December 1984, at the height of Wham!’s popularity, the song famously missed out on the UK Christmas number one spot, held off by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, which also featured George Michael. Despite this, Last Christmas became a massive commercial success, reaching number two in the UK charts on its original release and going on to top charts across Europe in the years that followed. Decades later, it finally reached number one in the UK, confirming its long-term chart dominance rather than a fleeting seasonal hit.
Its real achievement, however, lies in its extraordinary legacy. Every December, the song re-enters charts around the world, driven by streaming, radio play, and festive playlists. It has become a cultural ritual: shops, offices, and Christmas parties reliably soundtrack the season with its unmistakable synth intro and bittersweet melody. Unlike many novelty Christmas hits, Last Christmas blends heartbreak with festive warmth, giving it emotional depth that resonates year after year. The song’s sleek 80s production has aged remarkably well, helping it bridge generations.
For working musicians, the song is virtually compulsory. Bands and acoustic duos are widely expected to have it ready for December gigs, alongside other festive staples. Its chord progression is accessible, its melody instantly recognisable, and audiences invariably sing along. In practical terms, knowing Last Christmas is almost a requirement for Christmas bookings. More than forty years after its release, it remains not just a seasonal favourite, but a dependable centrepiece of live festive sets and one of the defining Christmas pop songs of all time.
Last Christmas Chords: Continue Learning
Step-by-step Guitar Courses
Master guitar by studying real tunes. Build your skills with video lessons, eBooks and practice routines that connect theory with the music you love!
Explore SpyTunes step-by-step Guitar Courses.
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
