Chords + Lyrics | One
Intro
| Amadd4 | D7omit3 |
| Fmaj13 | Gadd4 |
Verse 1
| Amadd4 | D7omit3 |
Is it getting better?
| Fmaj13 | Gadd4 |
Or do you feel the same?
| Amadd4 | D7omit3 |
Will it make it easier on you, now?
| Fmaj13 | Gadd4 |
You’ve got someone to blame, you’ll say:
Chorus 1
| C | Am |
One love, one life.
| Fmaj7 | C |
When it’s one need, in the night.
| C | Am |
One love, we get to share it.
| Fmaj7 | C |
Leaves you baby if you, don’t care for it.
Instrumental 1
| Amadd4 | D7omit3 |
| Fmaj13 | Gadd4 |
Verse 2
Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love.
And you want me to go without, well it’s:
Chorus 2
Too late, tonight.
To drag the past out into the light.
We’re one, but we’re not the same, we get to:
Carry each other, carry each other, one.
Instrumental 2
| Amadd4 | D7omit3 |
| Fmaj13 | Gadd4 |
Verse 3
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head.
Chorus 3
Did I ask too much? More than a lot.
You gave me nothin’ now it’s all I’ve got.
We’re one but we’re not the same.
Well we, hurt each other then we do it again, you say:
Middle 8
| C | Am |
Love is a temple, love a higher law.
| C | Am |
Love is a temple, love the higher law.
| C | G |
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl.
| G | F | F |
And I can’t be holdin’ on, to what you got, when all you got is hurt.
Chorus 4
One love, one blood.
One life, you got to do what you should.
One life, with each other.
Sisters, brothers.
Chorus 5
One life but we’re not the same, We get to:
Carry each other, carry each other.
One.
One.
Instrumental 3 (as chorus)
| C | Am | Fmaj7 | C |
Outro
||: C | Am | Fmaj7 | C :||
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, yeah. Baby, baby, baby.
Higher. Baby, higher. Yeah, yeah, baby.
Higher. Baby, higher.
One Chords: Learn the Essential Chord Extensions and Progressions
As one of U2’s most beloved songs, One is a masterpiece of layered guitars.
While this makes for a captivating listen, it also presents a challenge when playing live as the sole guitarist.
The chords for the intro, verse, and instrumental sections can be defined with different extensions. However, exactly how you play them is open to interpretation, as you need to choose which of the layers to highlight or combine.
Verse
A simplified version of the verse chords would be just Am (VI), Dm (II), F (IV), and G (V). But without the extensions and subtle licks, it doesn’t capture the essence of the song. Here’s how I would best describe the verse chords with extensions:
||: Amadd4 (VI) | D7omit3 (II) | Fmaj13 (IV) | Gadd4 (IV) :||
Chorus
The chorus is much simpler, providing a refreshing contrast after the complex verse chords:
| C (I) | Am (VI) | Fmaj7 (IV) | C (I) |
To get it right, you need to figure out how to combine the various parts and transfer them into TAB. Once you’ve memorised it, you can return to the chords and use the extensions as a helpful guide.
Here’s a link to the lesson where I’ve done this for you: One (U2) – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
And here’s a simple chord chart you can use once you’re familiar with how to play it like The Edge did.
One Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: One chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: One iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
One TAB | Course Preview
I’ve transcribed the original guitar parts in One and created fully TABBED arrangements for both acoustic and electric guitar, covering all sections in a way that works in a band setting.
As a preview, here’s the chorus for electric guitar:
Achtung Baby – U2’s masterpiece
Four years after the minimalistic triumph of The Joshua Tree (1987), U2 released, in my opinion, their best album.
Before venturing too far with production on Zooropa (1993), Achtung Baby (1991) struck the perfect balance of songwriting, band dynamics, and exciting production.
Tracks like Mysterious Ways, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, and Acrobat are all true gems.
But the standout on Achtung Baby, the jewel in the crown, is One. Even those who dislike U2 can’t deny this is a remarkable tune.
I vividly remember living with this album for months, captivated by how they managed to have so much going on yet still sound so focused. To this day, I still put on Achtung Baby and marvel at U2’s masterpiece.
One Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: One (U2) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
