Parklife | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 :|| x6
Oi!
Verse 1
||: E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 :||
Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of
what is known as (Parklife).
And morning soup can be avoided if you take a route straight
through what is known as (Parklife).
John’s got brewer’s droop he gets intimidated by the dirty
pigeons. They love a bit of him (Parklife).
Who’s that gut lord marching, you should cut down on your
pork life mate, get some exercise.
Chorus 1
| E Bb5 B5 | B | E C5 B5 | B |
All the people. So many people. And they
| G D/F# | E D |
all go hand-in-hand.
| C G/B | A Bb | B | (B A G F#) |
Hand-in-hand through their Parklife. Know what I mean?
Instrumental 1
|| E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 | E | E A E N.C |
Verse 2
||: E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 :||
I get up when I want, except on Wednesdays when I get
rudely awakened by the dustmen (Parklife).
I put my trousers on, have a cup of tea, and I
think about leaving the house (Parklife).
I feed the pigeons, I sometimes feed the sparrows too,
it gives me a sense of enormous well-being (Parklife).
And then I’m happy for the rest of the day, safe in the knowledge
there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it.
Chorus 2
| E Bb5 B5 | B | E C5 B5 | B |
All the people. So many people. And they
| G D/F# | E D |
all go hand-in-hand.
| C G/B | A Bb | B | (B A G F#) |
Hand-in-hand through their, Parklife.
Chorus tag
||: E A E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 :||
Parklife (Parklife).
Parklife (Parklife).
Verse 3
||: E A E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 :||
It’s got nothing to do with your Vorsprung Durch Technik
you know? Parklife (Parklife).
And it’s not about you joggers who go round and
round and round and round Parklife (Parklife).
Chorus 3
| E Bb5 B5 | B | E C5 B5 | B |
All the people. So many people. And they
| G D/F# | E D |
all go hand-in-hand.
| C G/B | A Bb | B | (B A G F#) |
Hand-in-hand through their Parklife.
Chorus 4
| E Bb5 B5 | B | E C5 B5 | B |
All the people. So many people. And they
| G D/F# | E D |
all go hand-in-hand.
| C G/B | A Bb | B | (B A G F#) | E |
Hand-in-hand through their Parklife.
Parklife’s chords and progressions
Blur‘s Parklife is a perfect example of how the quirky London-based Britpop outfit was different from Manchester’s Oasis with their Wonderwall.
The chords are seemingly simple until you start digging into it and realize that there is much more to Parklife than one may first assume.
What stands out the most to me is how much they blend E Ionian, with E Aeolian. Usually, a modal interchange is just one chord, in Parklife’s chorus, it’s a constant blend! Here’s the first line
| E Bb5 B5 | B | E C5 B5 | B |
Using both the b5 (Bb), and the b6 this is very E Aeolian, blues-like, apart from that E, which is major! The next line starts as if we’re in Em, then goes to E (I) D (bVIIx).
| G D/F# | E D |
Next, we’re yet again back in Em with C (IV) G/B (I/3). Then again back to E with an A (IV), chromatically up to B (V). Finish this off with a minor bass line in B – A – G – F#.
| C G/B | A Bb | B | (B A G F#) |
Parklife’s verse is often played right, but the chord names are usually written wrong. Look at the actual intervals and you’ll see it’s E – Dmaj7sus2 – Asus2.
This was most likely written by just “moving the fingers” in a simple way, then up an octave for the distinctive sound. Here’s some TAB that illustrates how this probably was written, then modified.
