Chords + Lyrics | This Is
Verse 1
| D | D |
These are the hands of a tired man.
| F#m7 | F#m7 |
This is the old man’s shroud.
| Em7 | Em7 |
These are the eyes of the blood-crazed tiger.
| G | A |
Staring at the maddening crowd.
Verse 2
This is the face of a teenage mother.
This is the child she bears.
This is the soul of her broken lover.
Searching for the smiles they shared.
Verse 3
These are the feet of the punished pilgrim.
And in his book of punished love.
You see his eyes, you see no surprise.
Waiting for a lie that’s true.
Chorus 1
| G | Bm |
Everybody hits you with this feeling.
| A | A |
Nobody seems to understand.
| G | Bm | A |
Yeah you stop, you look, you’re searching for the meaning of love.
| Cadd9 | Cadd9 N.C |
(Wasting your life away).
Verse 4
These are the dreams of a sleeping father.
And in his long lost days.
He sees a child, he sees his eyes.
Waiting for the price he’s paid.
Verse 5
These are the tears of a fallen idol.
And in his smile of shattered love.
You see his eyes, you see no surprise.
You just see lights then realise.
Chorus 2
Everybody hits you with this feeling.
Nobody seems to understand.
Yeah you stop, you look, you’re searching for the meaning of love.
(Wasting your life away).
Middle 8
| Bm | Bm |
Oh here with you.
| F#m7 | F#m7 |
There’s no one here like you.
| Em7 | Em7 |
And no one moves like you.
| G | A |
Nobody touches like you.
Chorus 3
| G | Bm |
Everybody hits you with this feeling.
| A | A |
Nobody seems to understand.
| G | Bm | A | A |
Yeah you stop, you look, you’re searching for the meaning of love.
Chorus 4 (as chorus 3)
Everybody hits you with this feeling.
Nobody seems to understand.
Yeah you stop, you look, you’re searching for the meaning of love.
Outro (as chorus 3)
(Everybody hits you with this feeling).
Everybody hits you, and everybody knocks you down.
(You stop you look you’re searching for a meaning)
You stop you look you’re searching, you stop you look you’re searching.
(Everybody hits you with this feeling).
Everybody hits you, and everybody knocks you down.
(You stop you look you’re searching for a meaning)
| A | A | G5 |
Everybody hits you, and everybody knocks you down.
This Is Chords: Unlocking the Simple Yet Effective Progressions
The chords of This Is are nearly all diatonic, with only one exception—the Cadd9, which ends the choruses.
Verse
In the key of D, the verse follows a I – III – II – IV – V progression, like this:
| D (I) | D | F#m7 (III) | F#m7 |
| Em7 (II) | Em7 | G (IV) | A (V) |
The rhythm is quite similar to Aslan’s other hit, Crazy World, and is best explained using TAB. Here’s a link to that part of the lesson: This Is – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Chorus
The chorus and outro chords start on the IV, followed by the VI and V, like this:
||: G (IV) | Bm (VI) |
|1. A (V) | A :||
|2. A | Cadd9 (bVIIx) |
After repeating, the song ends on the Cadd9 (bVIIx), the only chord that lies outside the key of D. You can find the TAB for this section as well.
It’s worth comparing this Cadd9 with how the bVIIx chord is used in Angels. Analysing similar chord movements across different songs will help you recognise them quickly.
Once you become familiar with it in a few songs, you’ll be able to spot it instantly when it appears in new music. Pay attention to the feeling it creates.
Middle 8
The final section of This Is is the middle 8, which follows a similar pattern to the verse, but replaces the I chord (D) with the VI (Bm), like this:
| Bm (VI) | Bm | F#m7 (III) | F#m7 |
| Em7 (II) | Em7 | G (IV) | A (V) |
Study the TAB closely, play along with the original recording, and you’ll be ready to bring this fantastic tune to your rehearsal or gig, using only a simple chord chart as a reminder, like the one below.
This Is Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download my chart, here’s a PDF: This Is chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: This Is iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key, although you’ll lose the power of the open-position chords.
This Is TAB | Course Preview
You get TAB for all sections of This Is in the course, arranged to suit one acoustic guitar.
Here’s a preview—the first half of the verse.
Aslan’s First Big Hit
In 1988, Aslan released their debut album Feel No Shame. By then, the band had been together for six years and had become one of the most exciting new acts of the ’80s. They weren’t just popular in Ireland—they were tipped to be the next big thing in the U.K. as well.
The band’s rise to fame was driven by their first single, This Is, which had been released in 1986.
Following This Is, Aslan released seven more singles, most of which came from their debut album, but none had quite the same impact.
After experiencing a turbulent period in the limelight, with lead singer Christy Dignam battling drug and alcohol addiction, the band eventually split up. Christy formed a new band, but with little success, and the original band members realised it wasn’t the same without him. In 1993, they reunited and released their second hit, Crazy World.
With these two tracks, Aslan became a legendary Irish band—often touted by locals as being better than U2.
When Christy passed away in 2023, the band recruited a new singer to keep Aslan’s legacy alive.
This Is Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: This Is (Aslan) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
