Let’s Dance | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| Eb | Eb/G | Eb/Bb | Eb |
Ah, ah, ah…
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Let’s dance. Let’s dance. Let’s dance.
Verse 1
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. To the song they’re playin’ on the radio.
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway. While color lights up your face.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway. Sway through the crowd to an empty space.
Bridge 1
| Ab | Ab | Db Eb | Db Eb |
If you say run, I’ll run with you.
| Ab | Ab | Db/Eb Eb | Db/Eb Eb |
And if you say hide, we’ll hide (hide).
| Ab | Fm | Db |
Because my love for you, would break my heart in two.
| Eb | Eb/G | Eb/Bb | Eb |
(Ah) If you should fall, into my arms, and tremble like a flower.
Instrumental 1
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Let’s dance. Let’s dance.
Verse 2
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. For fear your grace should fall.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. For fear tonight is all.
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway. You could look into my eyes.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway. Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight.
Bridge 2
| Ab | Ab | Db Eb | Db Eb |
And if you say run, I’ll run with you.
| Ab | Ab | Db/Eb Eb | Db/Eb Eb |
And if you say hide, we’ll hide (hide).
| Ab | Fm | Db |
Because my love for you, would break my heart in two.
| Eb | Eb/G | Eb/Bb | Eb |
(Ah) If you should fall, into my arms, and tremble like a flower.
Instrumental 2
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Let’s dance. Let’s dance.
Verse 3
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s dance. To the song we’re playing.
| Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s sway. Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight.
Instrumental 2
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Outro
| N.C | N.C | N.C | N.C |
Let’s dance. Let’s.
| N.C | N.C | N.C | N.C |
Let’s.
| N.C | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s.
| Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C |
Let’s.
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Let’s dance…
Let’s Dance chords, progressions, and TAB
There are only two sections to learn for David Bowie‘s Let’s Dance but since they are so defined, you must get the chords absolutely right.
Let’s start with Nile Rodgers‘s rhythm part as this is the most important. Getting the chords right isn’t enough, it has to be the right inversions too, so let’s use TAB.
On the record, he’s using delay but this would be too complicated live so I’ve written it with the rhythm the delay is creating. Notice the little dot’s above the 8th notes, these mean play as 16th notes.
That Bb7sus4 and Bbm6 were chord II, so Dorian. This makes chord I an Ab. This is what the bridge starts with, like this:
| Ab | Ab | Db Eb | Db Eb |
| Ab | Ab | Db/Eb Eb | Db/Eb Eb |
| Ab | Fm | Db |
| Eb | Eb/G | Eb/Bb | Eb |
The first line is just I – IV – V. The second line is the same, although the bass goes straight to V, making it a Db/Eb chord. This could also be described as an Eb11.
The third line is a super standard I – VI – IV. When we hit the expected V chord (Eb) we are repeating what happened during the intro (Twist & Shout, Do You Love Me).
Before we wrap this up, let’s talk about that Gb6 in the verse. This is the crazy chord that doesn’t belong to the key of Ab Ionian or Bb Dorian, instead, it belongs to Bb Aeolian, making it a modal interchange.
Clearly, Nile is a hit arranging genius, I guess that’s why he named his guitar just that – The Hitmaker!
It’s not Nile playing the blues licks by the way, that’s Stevie Ray Vaughan. David Bowie, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Ray Vaughan – who knew that combination would work!?!
Let’s Dance chords | Related pages
Let’s Dance – 5 similar tunes
David Bowie
David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and audio engineer.
His biggest hits include (Is There) Life On Mars?, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Let’s Dance, China Girl, and Heroes.
Go to David Bowie tunes.
David Bowie on the web
Chic
Nile Rodgers’ Chic has many well-known Disco hits, but it’s perhaps his work as a producer and writer that he is best known.
Working with Madonna, Sister Sledge, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nile is a legend in the business.
Chic on the web
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Launching himself in 1983 to the world with his debut album Texas Flood and simultaneously appearing on David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, SRV was an instant hit.
Following this up with Couldn’t Stand The Weather, Pride & Joy, and Mary Had A Little Lamb, he firmly established himself as one of the greats.
Stevie Ray Vaughan on the web
