From: Harlan L Thompson 

SHANGRI-LA - The Kinks

(opening riff: pluck Am 5 4 3 4 2 4 3 4  twice)

  Am               G         E7   Am
Now that you've found your paradise
   Am          C       G     E7
This is your kingdom to command
         Am   C          G          E7
You can go outside and polish your car
    Am          C            E7     Am  (opening riff)
Or sit by the fire in your Shangri-La

 Am             G          E7       Am
Here is your reward for working so hard
  Am            C          G       E7
Gone are the lavatories in the backyard
  Am           C              G            E7
Gone are the days when you dreamed of that car
      Am          C            E7     Am   A
You just want to sit in your Shangri-La

 D                        Dmaj7
Put on your slippers and sit by the fire
         D7                      G         G/F#      Em
You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher
                 C            C/B            Am  Am/G
You're in your place and you know where you are
          F     F/E  Dm  Dm/C
In your Shangri-La
 D                 Dmaj7
Sit back in your old rockin' chair
     D7                  G          G/F#  Em
You need not worry you need not care
                 C   C/B  Am
You can't go anywhere
         F A         F A         Bb F     C   A
Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La-ah-ah-ahh

       D            Dmaj7
The little man who gets the train
         D7              G          G/F#  Em
Got a mortgage hanging over his head
                C              C/B  Am Am/G
But he's too scared to complain
              F            F/E  Dm Dm/C
Cos he's conditioned that way
 D                   Dmaj7
Time goes by and he pays off his debts
       D7              G   G/F#  Em
Got a T.V. set and a radio
             C             C/B  Am
For seven shillings a week
        F A         F A         Bb  F     C
Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La-ah-ah-ahhh
        F A         F A         Bb  F     C
Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La-ah-ah-ahhh

Bb F C   Bb F C  Bb F Dm

 Dm            Dm/C        Dm/B              Dm/Bb
And all the houses in the street have got a name
 Dm            Dm/C        Dm/B                 Dm/Bb
Cos all the houses in the street they look the same
  A                             D                 Dm
Same chimney pots, same little cars, same window panes
 Dm            Dm/C              Dm/B                 Dm/Bb
The neighbors call to tell you things that you should know
 Dm             Dm/C                  Dm/B              Dm/Bb
They say their lines they drink their tea and then they go
 A                          D             Dm
They tell your business in another Shangri-La
 Dm                    Dm/C             Dm/B            Dm/Bb
The gas bills and the water rates and payments on the car
 Dm             Dm/C             Dm/B         Dm/Bb
Too scared to think about how insecure you are
 A                            D
Life ain't so happy in your little Shangri-La
         G        C        F  Bb  G C F Bb G C F Bb G C F Bb... G C F A
Shangri-La la la la la la la...

 D                        Dmaj7
Put on your slippers and sit by the fire
           D7                     G         G/F#      Em
You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher
                 C             C/B           Am
You're in your place and you know where you are
          F     F/E  Dm  Dm/C
In your Shangri-La
  D               Dmaj7
Sit back in your old rockin' chair
      D7                 G          G/F#  Em
You need not worry you need not care
                C     C/B  Am
You can't go anywhere
        F A         F A          Bb  F    C    A
Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La-ah-ah-ahhh
        F A         F A          Bb  F     C
Shangri-La, Shangri-La, Shangri-La-ah-ah-ahhh



Note: For verses that begin with Am, pick in B 4 3 2 style, once for each
chord.  For verses that begin with D, pick in  B 3 1&2 3 style.  All
other parts, including "Shangri-La" lines, strum.
(from that greatest of Kinks albums, Arthur, 1969)
(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)