I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
0:000:00
Capo
Am
AmFirst, I was afraid,Dm I was petrified
DmKept thiGnking, I could never live, withoCut you by my side
CBut then I sFpent so many nights thinking, how you Bmdid me wrong
BmAnd I grEew strong and I learned how to get along
EAnd soAm you're back, from outDmer space
DmI just walked in Gto find you here
GWith that sad Clook upon your face
CI should haveF changed that stupid lock
FI should havBme made you leave your key
BmIf I'd aE known for just one second
EYou'd be back to bother me
EWoah noAmw go, walk out the doDmor, just turn aroundG now
G'Cause you're not weClcome anymore
CWeren't you Fthe one who tried to hurt Bmme with goodbye
BmDid you thinkE I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
ENo, noAmt I, I will Dmsurvive
DmOh as long aGs I know how to love, I knCow I'll stay alive
CI've got aFll my life to live and I've got aBmll my love to give
BmAnEd I'll sAmurvivDme, IG wilCl suFrviveBm (heEy, hey)
EIt tookAm all the strength notDm to fall apart
DmJust tryingG hard to mend the pieces of mCy broken heart
CAnd I spent oh Fso many nights just feeling soBmrry for myself
BmI used to cEry, but now I hold my head up high
EAnd yoAmu see me, somebDmody new
DmI'm not that chaGined up little person still in lCove with you
CAnd so you felt liFke dropping in, and just expeBmct me to be free
BmBut now I'm saEving all my loving for someone who's loving me
EGo on go,Am walk out the dooDmr, just turn arounGd now
G'Cause you're Cnot welcome anymorFe
FWeren't you the one who tried to break meBm with goodbye
BmDid you thinEk I'd crumble, did you think I'd lay down and die?
EOh no,Am not I, I wiDmll survive
DmOh as lGong as I know how to love, I Cknow I'll stay alive
CI've got aFll my life to live and I've gotBm all my love to give
BmAnEd I'll surviAmve, I will survive (oh)
AmGo on now go, walk out the dDmoor, just turn around nGow
G'Cause you'Cre not welcFome anymore
FWeren't yBmou the one who tried to break me with goodbye
BmDid you thinEk I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
EOh no,Am not I, I wilDml survive
DmOh as lonGg as I know how to love, I Cknow I'll stay alive
CI've gotF my life to live and I've got all my loBmve to give
BmAndE I'll survive, I will survive
EI will Amsurvive
AmAt first, I was afraid, I was petrified
AmKept thinking, I could never live, without you by my side
AmBut theDmn I spent so many nights thinking, how you did me wrong
DmAnd I grew strong and I learned how to get along
DmAnd so you're back, from outer space
DmI just walked in to find you here
DmWith that sad look upon your face
DmI should have changed that stupid lock
DmI should hGave made you leave your key
GIf I'd a known for just one second
GYou'd be back to bother Cme
CWoah now go, walk out the door, just turn around now
C'Cause you're not welcome anymore
CWeren'tF you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
FDid you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
FOh no, noGt I, I wiBmll surviEve
EOh as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
EI've got all my life to live and I've got all my love to give
EAnd I'll survive, I will survive
EI will survive
EIt took Amall the strength not toDm fall apart
DmKept trying haGrd to mend the pieces of my Cbroken heart
CAnd I spent oh soF many nights just feeling sorrBmy for myself
BmI used to cry, butE now I hold my head up high
EAnd yoAmu see me, someDmbody new
DmI'm not that cGhained up little person still inC love with you
CAnd so you felt Flike dropping in, and just eBmxpect me to be free
BmBut now I'mE saving all my loving for someone who's loving me
EGo on goAm, walk out the doDmor, just turn arGound now
G'Cause you'rCe not welcome anymore
CWeFren't you the one who tried to Bmhurt me with goodbye
BmDid you thinEk I'd crumble, did you think I'd break down and die?
EOh no,Am not I, I will Dmsurvive
DmOh as long aGs I know how to love, I kCnow I'll stay alive
CI've goFt all my life to live and I've goBmt all my love to give
BmAEnd I'lAml suDmrviGve,C I FwillG BmsuErvive
EI wilAml survive
AmWoah now go, walk out the door, just turn around now
Am'DmCause you're not welcGome anymore
GWeren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
 Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
 Oh no, not I, I will survive
 Oh as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
 I've got all my life to live and I've got so much love to give
 And I'll survive, I will survive
 I-I-I'll survive
 Woah now go, walk out the door, just turn around now
 'Cause you're not welcome anymore
 Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
 Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
 Oh no, not I, I will survive
 Oh as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
 I've got all my life to live and I've got so much love to give
 And I'll survive, yes I'll survive
 Yeah l'll survive
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KeyA minor
Tempo~120 BPM
How to play I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor on guitar
This is a great one to learn because it has a confident, driving feel and a steady groove that keeps you moving. At about 120 BPM, it should feel upbeat and energetic once you settle into the pattern, and the chorus-style changes make it satisfying to play through.
Most of the chart uses open shapes, so you can stay comfortable with Am, Dm, G, C, F, and E. The main challenge is the clean switch through the opening progression, especially moving from Dm to G and then to C without losing time. If Bm appears, treat it as the harder barre shape and give that change extra attention.
Start by looping Am - Dm - G - C slowly until the motion feels automatic. Then add the other open shapes one at a time, keeping your strums even and relaxed. Once the changes are smooth, bring the tempo up in small steps until you can play the full song with confidence.
Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.
Looking for more? Browse the full guitar song library or explore chord diagrams.
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