Chords + Lyrics | Wake Me Up
Intro
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
Verse 1
||: Bm G5 | D5 | Bm G5 | D5 :||
Feeling my way through the darkness, guided by a beating heart.
I can’t tell where the journey will end, but I know where to start.
They tell me I’m too young to understand, they say I’m caught up in a dream.
Well, life will pass me by if I don’t open up my eyes, well that’s fine by me.
Chorus 1
||: Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 :||
So wake me up when it’s all over, when I’m wiser and I’m older.
All this time I was finding myself, and I didn’t know I was lost.
So wake me up when it’s all over, when I’m wiser and I’m older.
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 N.C |
All this time I was finding myself, and I didn’t know I was lost.
Instrumental
||: Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | N.C :|| x3
Verse 2
I tried carrying the weight of the world, but I only have two hands.
Hope I get the chance to travel the world, but I don’t have any plans.
Wish that I could stay forever this young, not afraid to close my eyes.
| Bm G5 | D5 | Bm G5 | D5 N.C |
Life’s a game made for everyone, and love is a prize.
Chorus 2
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
So wake me up when it’s all over, when I’m wiser and I’m older.
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 N.C |
All this time I was finding myself, and I, didn’t know I was lost.
||: Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 :||
So wake me up when it’s all over, when I’m wiser and I’m older.
All this time I was finding myself, and I, I didn’t know I was lost.
I didn’t know I was lost, I didn’t know I was lost.
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | N.C |
I didn’t know I was lost, I didn’t know.
Outro
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm | N.C |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 A5 |
| Bm G5 | D5 A5 | Bm G5 | D5 | B5 N.C |
Wake Me Up Chords: Understanding the Progression and Rhythmic Twist
It might seem like Avicii’s Wake Me Up is just a straightforward repetition of Bm – G – D, with the occasional stop, but a closer look reveals subtle variations that give the song its unique sound.
Verse
The verse chords are simple but contain an important detail: the G and D chords are played as G5 and D5, not the full major chords. Here’s how the progression breaks down using Roman numerals:
||: Bm (VI) G5 (IV) | D5 (I) :||
Chorus
During the chorus, an A5 is added, but it’s played on beat 4, which is the twist that sets this progression apart:
||: Bm (VI) G5 (IV) | D5 (I) A5 (V) :||
The key element here is the placement of the A5 chord on beat 4 instead of the expected beat 3, creating a subtle rhythmic shift.
For a detailed breakdown, here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Wake Me Up – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you have the details, a simple chord chart is all you need to take to your gig. The beauty of the chord chart lies in its simplicity, reminding you when to play and when to drop out, helping you focus on dynamics and performance.
Wake Me Up Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Wake Me Up chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Wake Me Up iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Wake Me Up TAB | Course Preview
There’s TAB for all sections of Wake Me Up in the course, including the melody.
As a preview, here’s the verse.
The Accidental Dance Anthem That Dominated the 2010s
Released in 2013, Wake Me Up became an extraordinary success, selling 11 million copies and topping the charts in over 30 countries.
The track was written by Avicii and Mike Einziger of Incubus, with the vocal melody and lyrics contributed by Aloe Blacc (known for I Need A Dollar). Blacc adapted lyrics he had written a few years earlier to fit the music that Avicii and Einziger had already recorded.
After the initial recording, Avicii made a dance remix, and the song quickly gained momentum. Describing the track as a “fun experiment,” Avicii noted that Wake Me Up came to life through consistent daily work, not divine inspiration – a valuable lesson for all of us.
Wake Me Up went on to become the most successful dance track of the 2010s.
Wake Me Up Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Wake Me Up (Avicii) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
