A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
<< Back to The Kinks Song List
Version 1#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# #This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the # #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. # #------------------------------------------------------------------------------## From: Harlan L Thompson <> 20TH CENTURY MAN- The Kinks A A A(move A shape from down a fret back) A D D A E E A (riff 2x) A D G D G D A (riff 2x) A E This is the age of machinery, a mechanical nightmare A A wonderful world of technology D G D A (riff) Napalm, hydrogen bomb, biological warfare A E This is the twentieth century, too much aggrevation A It's the age of insanity D G D A (riff) What has become of the green pleasant fields of Jeruselem? A G G A G G Ain't got no ambition, I'm just disillusioned D (no chord) A(riff) I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want, don't wanna be here A D G D G D A (riff) A G G# A My momma says she can't understand me E Can't see me motivation A Just give me some security D G D A (riff) I'm a paranoid schitzoid product of the 20th century A G G# A You keep all your smart modern writers E Give me William Shakesphere A You keep all your smart modern painters D G D A (riff) I'll take Rembrant, Titian, DeVinci and Gainsborough A G G# A G Girl, we gotta get out of here, we gotta find a solution D (no chord) A(riff) I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want, don't wanna die here A G G# A G Well, we gotta get outta here, we've gotta find a solution D (no chord) A I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want, don't wanna be here BRIDGE: Em A5 Em G G/F# Em I was born in a welfare state, ruled by bureaucracy D Am C C/B A5 Controlled by civil servants and people dressed in grey A5 Am A5 G G/F# Em Got no privacy, got no liberty D A5 C C/B A (riff) Cos the twentieth century people took it all away from me RIFF #2 FOUR TIMES A (no chord) G D A Don't wanna get myself shot down (no chord) G D A By some trigger happy policeman (no chord) G D Gotta keep a hold of my sanity D F C G A I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna die here RIFF #2 FOUR TIMES (no chord) G D A My mama says she can't understand me (no chord) G D A Can't see my motivation (no chord) G D Ain't got no security D F C G A I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna die here RIFF #2 (repeat ...) I don't want twentieth century man, I don't want twentieth century man I don't want twentieth century man, I don't want twentieth century man A G D A This is the twentieth century G D A Too much aggrevation G D This is the age of insanity D F C G A I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here RIFF: 'A' chord ---------------------------- -------------------3-3-3-2-- -------------------2-2-2-2-- repeat -------------------4-4-4-2-- ----0-5p0-5p0---0----------- --------------0------------- RIFF #2: A G G/F# Em ------------------------------------ ----3-3-2---------0------0---------- ----2-2-2---------0------0---------- ----4-4-2---0---0------0------0----- --0-------0------------------------- --------------3------2------0------- NOTE: Pick notes on the bridge, strum all other times. The riffs are approximate, to give the general idea. The bridge has been altered a bit to make it sound better for guitar. This is the way the song goes in my mind. (from Muswell Hilbillies, 1971) (sent by Harlan at )