You’re All I Need To Get By | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| A | B/A | Dm6/A | A |
You’re all I need to get by.
Verse 1
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Like sweet morning dew, I took one look at you,
| Dm6/A | A |
and it was plain to see, you were my destiny.
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) With arms open wide, I threw away my pride,
| Dm6/A | A |
I’ll sacrifice for you, dedicate my life to you.
Bridge 1
| A A/C# | A/E A |
I will go where you lead always there in time of need.
| B7 B7/D# | Bm7b5/F Bm7b5/D |
And when I lose my will, you’ll be there to push me up the hill.
Chorus 1
| A/E | Bm7 |
There’s no, no looking back for us.
| A/E | Bm7 Dm6 |
We got love, sure enough, that’s enough.
| A/E | Bm7b5/F |
You’re all, you’re all I need, to get by.
Tag
| A | B/A | Dm6/A | A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, Tammi, listen.
Verse 2
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Like an eagle protects his nest, for you, I’ll do my best.
| Dm6/A | A |
Stand by you like a tree, and dare anybody to try and move me.
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Darling in you, I found, strength where I was torn down.
| Dm6/A | A |
Don’t know what’s in store, but together we can open any door.
Bridge 2
| A A/C# | A/E A |
Just to do what’s good for you, and inspire you a little higher.
| B7 B7/D# | Bm7b5/F Bm7b5/D |
I know you can make a man, out of a soul that didn’t have a goal.
Middle 8
| A/E | Bm7 |
‘Cause we, we got the right foundation,
| A/E | B7 Dm6 |
and with love and determination.
| A/E | Bm7 |
You’re all, you’re all I want to strive for and do a little more.
| A/E | Bm7 |
You’re all, all the joys, under the sun wrapped up into one.
| A/E | Bm7b5/F | A/E | Bm7b5/F |
You’re all, you’re all I need. You’re all I need.
| B7 | E7sus4 |
You’re all I need (oh), to get by.
Outro
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh, babe. Oh, babe.
| Dm6/A | A |
Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, honey, yeah!
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) I need you darling (oh-oh).
| Dm6/A | A |
Oh, I need you (you’re all). All your love (all I need). Oh, oh, oh!
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) I love you darling (oh, baby),
| Dm6/A | A |
all I need (you’re all I need). I need your love (you’re all I want).
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Oh (oh) all you love now (yeah).
| Dm6/A | A |
Hey, Tammi (oh, yeah) you’re all I need.
You’re All I Need To Get By’s chords and progressions
We’re in for a real treat when it comes to You’re All I Need To Get By’s chords! Let’s look at each section, starting with the intro/chorus/outro.
| A | B/A | Dm6/A | A |
As the bass stay on an A, we move to B and Dm6, creating lots of lovely tension. You could name these A6/add9/#11 and Asus4#5add9 as well but it does sound a bit pretentious…
The bridge is slightly simpler, manipulating the two chords A and B, like only a true gospel pianist can.
| A A/C# | A/E A |
| B7 B7/D# | Bm7b5/F Bm7b5/D |
That last bar is pretty hectic, luckily, the chords stay the same as the bass takes care of all the movement!
Let’s check what happens in chorus 1.
| A/E | Bm7 |
| A/E | Bm7 Dm6 |
| A/E | Bm7b5/F |
Again, slash chords are what give you that gospel sound. When chorus 2 arrives, it only stays the same for the first three bars.
| A/E | Bm7 | A/E | B7 Dm6 |
| A/E | Bm7 | A/E | Bm7 |
| A/E | Bm7b5/F | A/E | Bm7b5/F |
| B7 | E7sus4 |
Again, it’s slash chords that do the trick, the Bm7b5/F being what stands out the most. As a guitarist in a band, my top tip is, to ignore the bass note!
One of three hits for Tammi and Marvin
Marvin and Tammi had three big hits in Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, and what we’re looking at above, You’re All I Need To Get By.
Released in 1968, a year after Ain’t No Mountain and two years before Tammi’s tragic death, it would become the duo’s biggest hit, charting at #1 in both the U.K. and U.S.
In 1969, Marvin performed the song with Carla Thomas as Tammi was too weak to get on stage, she only made it to the front row in a wheelchair.
When Marvin could see her sing along, he entered the audience and finished the song with Tammi. It would become her last performance. A few months later, at Tammi’s funeral, Marvin performed the song again.
Written by Ashford and Simpson (who also sang BV’s on the recording and wrote the other two big hits for Gaye and Terrell), You’re All I Need To Get By has some great chords, you should study them carefully.
