That’s Entertainment | Chords + Lyrics (Capo 3)
Intro
| G | Em | G | Em |
| Am | F | G | Em |
Verse 1
||: G | Em :||
A police car and a screaming siren.
A pneumatic drill and ripped up concrete.
A baby wailing, stray dog howling.
The screech of brakes and lamp light blinking.
Chorus 1
| Am | F | Am | F | G | Em |
That’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
Verse 2
A smash of glass and the rumble of boots.
An electric train and a ripped-up phone booth.
Paint-splattered walls and the cry of a tomcat.
Lights going out and a kick in the balls.
Chorus 2
| Am | F | Am | F |
I say that’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
| G | Em | G | Em |
Ah. La la la la la, ah. La la la la la, ah.
Verse 3
Days of speed and slow time Mondays (La la la la la, ah).
Pissing down with rain on a boring Wednesday (La la la la la, ah).
Watching the news and not eating your tea (La la la la la, ah).
A freezing cold flat and damp on the walls (La la la la la, ah).
Chorus 3 (same as 1)
I say that’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
Verse 4
Waking up at six AM on a cool warm morning.
Opening the windows and breathing in petrol.
An amateur band rehearsing in a nearby yard.
Watching the tele and thinking about your holidays.
Chorus 4
| Am | F | Am | F |
That’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
| G | Em | G | Em |
Ah. La la la la la, ah. La la la la la, ah.
| G | Em | Am | F | G | Em |
La la la la la, ah. La la la la la, ah.
Verse 5
Waking up from bad dreams and smoking cigarettes.
Cuddling a warm girl and smelling stale perfume.
A hot summer’s day and sticky black tarmac.
Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away.
Chorus 5 (same as 1 and 3)
That’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
Verse 6
Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight.
Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude.
Gettin’ in a cab and traveling on buses.
Reading the graffiti about slashed seat affairs.
Chorus 6
| Am | F | Am | F |
I said that’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.
Outro
||: G | Em | G | Em |
Ah. La la la la la, ah. La la la la la, ah.
| G | Em | Am | F :|| to fade
La la la la la, ah. La la la la la, ah.
That’s Entertainment Chords: Easy Progressions for Beginners
That’s Entertainment is a fantastic choice for beginners wanting to practice with a pick. The key is to learn how to fret four basic chords and then memorise two bars of rhythm.
The 16th note strumming at the end of bar two offers a challenge that is great for a beginner’s development. It pushes them to keep going and improve without feeling that it is impossible.
When teaching this song, spend some time on the intro, as once a student masters it, they essentially know the whole piece.
The chord progressions follow a simple I – VI (G – Em) and then II – bVIIx (Am – F), before returning to I – VI, like this:
| G (I) | Em (VI) | G | Em |
| Am (II) | F (bVIIx) | G | Em |
Don’t forget the capo on fret 3 if you’re playing along with the original recording!
Interestingly, you could also interpret this in the key of C, which looks like this using Roman numerals:
| G (V) | Em (III) | G | Em |
| Am (VI) | F (IV) | G | Em |
Beginners often seek a ‘correct’ answer, which is a natural instinct when learning something new. But the beauty of music is that we can sometimes bend the rules. It’s almost like That’s Entertainment exists in both the keys of G and C—now that’s music theory entertainment!
I’ve created a TAB lesson to show you how to strum this English classic. You can find it here: That’s Entertainment – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you’ve got the TAB down, a simple chord chart is all you’ll need. Here’s one I’ve put together for you.
That’s Entertainment Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Although That’s Entertainment only features a few chords, the structure—particularly the repeated G – Em progressions—can be quite tricky to explain in a chord chart. To truly grasp it, listening to the original recording alongside the chart is essential.
If you’d like to download the chord chart, here’s the PDF link: That’s Entertainment chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iReal Pro. You can also access the file through this link: That’s Entertainment chord chart iReal Pro.
Using iReal Pro and the app, you can change the key, though I wouldn’t recommend it. The essence of That’s Entertainment is really captured in those chord shapes!
That’s Entertainment – The Jam’s Best-Selling Imported Single and Its Cultural Impact
Paul Weller’s band, The Jam, released That’s Entertainment only as a single abroad, which led it to become the second biggest-selling import single in the U.K.
Capturing the harsh realities of working-class life in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the song has been hailed by the British press since its release. BBC, who likely have a soft spot for Paul Weller, even ranked it as “the 43rd best song ever released by any artist.”
While its cultural impact is significant, I’m more focused on the chords, strumming patterns, and key changes – but maybe that’s just me!
That’s Entertainment Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: That’s Entertainment (The Jam) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: