Victim Of Circumstance Acoustic chords by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts

• Key: Eb
• Difficulty: Beginner 👶

NOTE:
In the recording, it sounds like one guitar is playing power chords and the other open/barre chords. Play
whichever you prefer. Feel free to get funky with the strumming, too; the guitarists here alternate muted
strums sometimes when they play B.


Intro:

E Gm A C
E Gm A B




Verse :
   E                              B
The police were waitin' when the sun came up
    A                                   B
You better move your ass or we'll really get rough
   E                           B
I never wanted trouble, but I sure got enough
     A
I'm bad at bein' subtle
       B
But I ain't that tough, no

Chorus:
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Didn't you know?
 A                 C
(Just a victim of circumstance) Doesn't it show?
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Wherever I go
 A                   B
(Just a victim of) a bad reputation I got no chance of shakin'




Verse :
E                              B
Really gets you down when you don't belong
     A                           B
And everyone around says you growed up wrong
     E                              B
But why do they resent it? I ain't doin' anything
      A                           B
They say that I'm demented an' I never could sing
      E                     B
Then everywhere I went, I caused them such alarm
     A                           B
You know I never meant to cause anybody harm, no


Chorus:
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Didn't you know?
 A                 C
(Just a victim of circumstance) Doesn't it show?
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Wherever I go
 A                   B
(Just a victim of) a bad reputation I got no chance of shakin'


Solo:
E B A B
E B A B D


Bridge:
                  D  G A* G A*
I've been laughed at
                D   G A* G A*
I've been shut out
              D   G  A*  G A*
But let there be no doubt
B
Never been afraid of chances I been takin'




Verse :
   E                              B
The police are waitin' when the sun came up
    A                                   B
You better move your ass or we'll really get rough
   E                           B
I never wanted trouble, but I sure got enough
     A
I'm bad at bein' subtle
       B
But I ain't that tough, no


Chorus:
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Didn't you know?
 A                 C
(Just a victim of circumstance) Doesn't it show?
 E                     Gm
(I'm just a victim of circumstance) Wherever I go
 A                   B
(Just a victim of) a bad reputation I got no chance of shakin'


Outro:

E B A B
E B A B
E B A B
E B A B
E B A B
E B A B
E




Chords used:

As open and barre chords:

E:  022100
Gm: 310033 or 355333
A:  x02220
C:  x32010
B:  x24442
D:  xx0232
G:  320033

As power chords and triads:

E5: 022xxx
G5: 355xxx
A5: 577xxx or x022xx
C5: x355xx or 8|10|10|x|x|x
B5: 799xxx or x244xx
D5: x577xx
G:  x|10|12|12|12|x (played during the bridge)
A*: x|12|14|14|14|x (played during the bridge)