Think | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Bb7#9 Eb/Bb :|| x3
| Bb7#9 (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Chorus 1
| Bb | Eb Bb |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Think (think, think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Verse 1
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go way on, way back when.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
I didn’t even know you, you couldn’t have been too much more than ten (just a child).
| Bb | Eb Bb |
I ain’t no psychiatrist, I ain’t no doctor with degrees.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
But it don’t take too much high IQ’s to see what you’re doing to me.
Chorus 2
| Bb | Eb Bb |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Yeah, think (think, think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free, ooh.
Bridge 1
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom). Oh, freedom, yeah, freedom, I said.
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Freedom (freedom), oh, oh freedom (freedom). Thinking ’bout freedom, oh freedom, alright now.
Key change
| B | B |
Hey, think about it. Please, think about it.
Verse 2
| B | E B |
There ain’t nothing you could ask, I could answer you but I won’t (I won’t).
| B | E B |
But I was gonna change, but I’m not, if you keep doing things I don’t.
Chorus 3
| B | E B |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| B | E B |
Oh Lord (what you’re trying to do to me), think (think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Verse 3
| B | E B |
People walking around everyday playing games, taking scores.
| B | E B |
Trying to make other people lose their minds, Ah, be careful you don’t lose yours, oh.
Chorus 4
| B | E B |
Think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me, ooh-oh.
| B | E B |
Think (think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Middle 8
| E9 | E9 |
You need me (need me) and I need you (don’t you know).
| E9 | E9 (A E D C G) |
Without each other, there ain’t nothing people can do, oh.
Outro
||: B | B :||
Oh, hey, think about it, Baby (What are you trying to do me, baby).
To the bone, Baby, think about it right now, yeah.
Right now (to the bone, forgiveness), woo, right now (to the bone, forgiveness).
Hey, Baby, right now (to the bone, forgiveness), you, think about it, Baby, Baby, Baby. (think about it).
(To the bone, forgiveness) Wo, to the bone, Baby, (to the bone, forgiveness) yeah.
Think’s chords, progressions, and TAB
Aretha Franklin‘s Think is a classic found on most soul bands’ set list, especially after it was revived in the Blues Brothers film, using a faster, and slightly different arrangement.
What you see above is the original chords with lyrics. In the Blues Brothers version, they keep going, repeating a few sections before the outro, complete with a third key change and a synchronized outro.
The original version is 2:19, and the Blues Brothers version is 3:15.
You may think (!) it’s a good idea to ask before the gig which version the band does but I’ve found it’s more fun to see if everyone goes up to C in the end or not, it keeps me on my toes.
Let’s go through all sections, starting with the piano intro, which can be played on guitar.
What we got here is a Bb7 that goes from minor to major. This means we can call it a Bb7#9. At the end of the bar, we hit an Eb/Bb.
The riff is slightly different in bar one, compared to bars two and three. In bar four, we get the descending riff where everyone joins in. Here it is in TAB (the Blues Brothers version is slightly different).
As we start the chorus, and this goes for the verse as well, it’s just chords I – IV – I, like this:
||: Bb | Eb Bb :||
On the original recording, there are two guitar parts, one plays steady Motown/Soul Esque stabs, and the other plays country licks. If you are the only guitarist in the band, aim to blend those two ideas.
The bridge (Freedom) uses more chords as we go I – bIIIx – IV – I, followed by the minor pentatonic descending lick.
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
After the key change, we simply do all this in B again.
We also have the M8 section that appears after the key change, here we go to chord IV, make it a 9 chord and it sounds more blues, so an E9. Add the minor pentatonic lick at the end, now in B, like this:
| E9 | E9 | E9 | E9 (A E D C G) |
If you are playing the Blues Brothers version you need to play a bridge in B, then go up to C for another verse, chorus, M8, then the outro, all in the key of C.
The outro is not like the verse and chorus, instead, we just stay on the I chord.
Finally, the synchronized outro is a must no matter what version you play, it’s so brilliant! Here displayed in C using TAB.
This may have all sounded a bit complicated, but once you play along with the recordings above, you’ll get the hang of it.
In my experience, what usually happens is that you’ll end up playing the Blues Brothers version with three key changes, one M8 only, and instead of starting in Bb, you’ll start in Ab, few singers can handle Aretha Franklin’s original key signatures.
Luckily, no matter what key or how many changes, it’s the same simple concept throughout, moving Think’s chords around the fretboard really isn’t that difficult.
If you are a singer or feel the need to help a singer out, show them the third video in the playlist above and point out that if Lenny Kravitz changes the melody, so can you!
If it was down to me, I’d stick with the original version, blend the two guitar parts and just borrow that outro. The tempo feels much better on the original recording and the guitar work is sensational.
Think chords | Related pages
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Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Considered by most critics and peers the greatest singer of all time.
Born in Detroit and looking for a record deal, Aretha seemed like the perfect match for Berry Gordy’s label Motown. However, Aretha’s father had other ideas.
Aretha Franklin on the web
