Chords + Lyrics | Somebody Else’s Guy
Intro
| Abm9 (Am9) | Bbm9 Eb7#9 |
I… Can’t get off my high horse and I can’t let you go.
| Abm9 | Eb7#9 | Abm9 (Am9) | Bbm9 Eb7#9 |
You are the one, who, you are the one who makes me feel so real, yeah, yeah, yeah.
| Abm9 | Eb7#9 |
Oh, what am I supposed to do?
| Abm9 (Am9) | Bbm9 Eb7#9 |
Oh, what am I supposed to do, baby? When I’m so hooked up on you.
| Abm9 | Eb7#9 | Abm9 | Db9 | Db9 |
Then I realize, oh, I realize. That you are somebody else’s guy,
||: Abm9 | Bbm9 Eb7#9 :|| x5
Oh yeah. Why you wanna do this to me boy?
| Abm9 (Bb B C) | Db11 Db9 |
Somebody else’s guy.
Instrumental
||: B9 Bb9 | Eb7#9 :|| x4
Verse 1
||: B9 Bb9 | Eb7#9 :||
Can you remember the times we’ve spent together?
Sharing our days in the sun.
But then I found out that you were somebody else’s lover.
After all the plans we made, now they’re shattered.
Chorus 1
||: Abm9 (Am9) | Bbm9 Eb7#9 :||
But still, I can’t get off my high horse, I can’t let go.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what a I supposed to do, when I’m hooked so on you?
| Abm9 (Bb B C) | Db11 Db9 |
Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Verse 2
That day in September, I’m sure you can remember.
That’s when all this stuff hit the fan (that stuff hit the fan).
You told me a lie and you didn’t have an alibi.
But baby yet I still cared.
Chorus 2
You know I loved you so, baby that I can’t let you go, no no.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you?
Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Solo
||: B9 Bb9 | Eb7#9 :|| x4
Chorus 3
You know I loved you so baby that I can’t let you go, no.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so you?
Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Chorus 4
Oh, I can’t get off my high horse. And I can’t let go.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you?
Then I realize, that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Chorus 5
Ohhh, I-I-I-I- can’t let you go, no (I can’t get off my high horse and I can’t let go)
See you are the one who makes me feel, so real (You are the one, who makes me feel so real)
Ooh, what am I supposed to do, when I’m hooked so on you? (Ooh, what am I supposed to do, when i’m hooked so on you?)
Then I realize, I realize, that you’re somebody else’s guy (Then I realize, that you’re somebody else’s guy)
Breakdown
||: N.C | N.C :||
I can’t get off my high horse and I can’t let go.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you?
And realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Outro
||: Abm7 | Bbm7 | Abm7 | Bbm7 Eb7#9 Dm7 |
| Abm7 | Bbm7 | Abm7 | Db11 Db9 :|| repeat to fade
Ooh, what? Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Ooh, what? Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
Ohh, oh baby, baby, baby, you are the one who makes me feel so real.
(Ooh, what?) What am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you?
Then I realize that you’re somebody else’s guy.
||: Oh, I can’t get off my high horse and I can’t let go.
You are the one who makes me feel so real.
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you?
And realize that you’re somebody else’s guy. :||
Somebody Else’s Guy Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Two backing tracks are available for this song—one includes vocals, the other is instrumental only. Both were created using AI to isolate the instruments while preserving the original groove and arrangement.
Note: the version with vocals might be unavailable in some regions due to copyright restrictions.
Use the tracks to hone your timing, feel, and live-readiness. Playing along will get you closer to a full-band experience and help internalise the pocket.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
The whole tune revolves around a few key progressions, built around chromatic movement, extended chords, and funky phrasing.
Intro + Chorus
The intro and chorus centre on a II – III – VI turnaround:
||: Abm9 (Am9) | Bbm9 Eb7#9 :||
| Abm9 (Bb B C) | Db11 Db9 |
The chromatic bass line between Abm9 and Bbm9 (Bb–B–C) creates a slick lead into the Db11 – Db9 pair later in the chorus. When comping on guitar, focus on percussive, short stabs to complement the keys and leave space in the groove.
Keyboardists might debate the exact voicings, and you’ll often hear variations (like Eb7#9#5 or added extensions).
To get exact instructions on how to execute the chords for this and all other sections, check the TAB lessons here: Somebody Else’s Guy – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Verse
Verses move to a IV – IIIx – VIx cycle:
||: B9 Bb9 | Eb7#9 :||
You’ll hear subtle rhythmic displacements and voicing changes from section to section, but these chords will get you going for the first gigs.
Outro
The outro introduces a smoother feel with min7 chords and an added Dm7 surprise.
||: Abm7 | Bbm7 | Abm7 | Bbm7 Eb7#9 Dm7 |
| Abm7 | Bbm7 | Abm7 | Db11 Db9 :||
When playing live, aim to locking in with the rhythm section and focusing on dynamics. A little restraint here goes a long way.
Here’s a chord chart, share it with your band mates so everyone play the same chords for Somebody Else’s Guy,
Somebody Else’s Guy Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Above is a one-page chord chart to match the lyrics, structure, and backing tracks. Great for rehearsals or gigs where space is tight and communication is key.
→ Download PDF chord chart – Somebody Else’s Guy
→ Download iReal Pro File – Somebody Else’s Guy
The iReal Pro file lets you transpose the tune if needed, though in most cases this song sits right where it should. If there’s a keyboard player on the gig, let them handle the intro and concentrate on supporting the feel without stepping on their voicings.
Somebody Else’s Guy TAB | Course Preview
I’ve designed a way for you to play the intro if there are no keys in the band and developed guitar parts for all other sections too. Naturally, the original part is also fully transcribed.
As a preview of this TAB, here’s the chorus section, which also appears during the intro. Notice how the Eb7#9 is played on beat 4 the first time, then on beat 3.
The small dots above the 8th notes indicate that they should be played short.
A Modern Standard
This Jocelyn Brown classic has become a staple for soul, funk, and pop singers around the world. It’s one of those tunes that every band member is expected to know, especially in function and wedding sets.
Its status as a standard has grown largely thanks to vocal coaches, who across the world seem to have adopted Jocelyn’s powerhouse anthem as a go-to challenge for their students. Once enough musicians adapt a tune like this, it naturally becomes part of the shared repertoire.
If you’re anything like me, you might have spent years playing this song with the wrong chords. Revisiting the recording, I’ve tried to get as close as possible to what’s really going on. You’ll still hear subtle differences depending on the player, so keep your ears open and adjust as needed—especially when gigging with new musicians.
🎯 Once you can comfortably play through the chords and lyrics, move on to the chord chart and backing tracks to prepare yourself for performing Somebody Else’s Guy with your band.
Somebody Else’s Guy Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Somebody Else’s Guy (Jocelyn Brown) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
