I found him by the stage last night
He was breathing his last breath
A bottle of gin and a cigarette
Was all he had left

Well, I know that you make music
'Cause you carry your guitar
But God help the troubadour
Who tries to be a star

Come on and play
The chords of love my friend
Play the chords of fame
But if you wanna keep your song, no no no
Don't play the chords of fame, oh no no

You know I've seen my share of hustlers
As they try to take the world
And when they find their melody
They're surrounded by the girls

But it all fades so quickly
Like a sunny summer day;
Reporters ask you questions
And may write down what you say
So come on and play
The chords of love my friend
Play the chords of fame
But if you wanna keep your song, no no no
Don't play the chords of fame, oh no no

They'll rob you of your innocence
They'll put you up for sale
The more that you will find success
The more that you will fail

I'd been around, I had my share
And I really can't complain
But I wonder who I left behind
On the other side of fame

Oh come on and play
The chords of love my friend
Play the chords of fame
But if you wanna keep your song, no no no
Don't play the chords of fame, oh no
No, oh don't play the chords of fame
Oh don't, no don't, don't play the chords of fame