Bad Medicine Waltz chords by The Cult

(There are 3 picking patterns used throughout the song, as follows)

[Verse]
     Am                      Em
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------0-----0-----0-----0---|
G|-------2-----2-----2-----2---------------------------|
D|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----|
A|---0-----0-----0-----0-----2-----2-----2-----2-------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

[Chorus]
     Em          Am          D           Em
e|---------0~~---------0~~---------2~~---------0~~-----|
B|-----0---0~~-----1---1~~-----3---3~~-----0---0~~-----|
G|-------0-0~~-------2-2~~-------2-2~~-------0-0~~-----|
D|---2-----2~~---2-----2~~---0-----0~~---2-----2~~-----|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

[Post-Chorus]
(This is slightly different than it appears on record: the recorded version just features the bass notes on
the Am chord before picking the Em, but I like to pick the Am too)
     Am                      Em
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------0-----0-----0-----0---|
G|-------2-----2-----2-----2---------------------------|
D|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----|
A|---0-----------------------2-----2-----2-----2-------|
E|---------3-----2-----0-------------------------------|

(These are often accompanied by slow upstrokes of the chords from a second guitar, particularly in the Verse
and Post-Chorus sections. Now let's set them to the lyrics)

[Verse]
     Am                 Em
It's funny how people stare
          Am                  Em
When your back's against the wall
     Am                 Em
It's funny how people stare
           Am                 Em
When your back's against the wall
  Am
I reach out my hand
  Em
I reach out my hand
Am           Em
For that bad medicine

[Chorus]
     Em        Am      D    Em
The clocks are full of heroes
Em              Am              D      Em
Propping up the bar with their empty ghosts
     Em             Am
It's dirty and it's raining
        D              Em
And the porno burns my eyes
Em            Am
Wipe away the tear
         D            Em
With the skin from my hide

[Post-Chorus]
Am        Em             Am
Don't you give into that bad medicine
Em
Keep on smiling

[Verse]
     Am                 Em
It's funny how people stare
          Am                  Em
When your back's against the wall
     Am                 Em
It's funny how people stare
           Am                 Em
When your back's against the wall

[Chorus]
     Em       Am      D                 Em
I've heard about this new world you're building
    Em            Am       D      Em
But will there be room for me?
     Em             Am
It's dirty and it's raining
        D              Em
And the porno burns my eyes
Em            Am
Wipe away the tear
         D            Em
With the skin from my hide
Em    Am           D   Em
Reach out for that bad medicine
     Em                  Am
Ooh, feel your skin burn
D              Em
Feel your soul turn

[Post-Chorus]
Am        Em
Don't you give into
Am        Em             Am            Em
Don't you give into that bad medicine
Am            Em
Bad medicine

[Chorus]
Em        Am   D     Em
Smile, it may take a while
         Em          Am     D             Em
But it's better than being nailed to the floor
Em             Am           D                  Em
Spit in their face if they stare while you're down
Em                            Am
Don't reach out for that bad medicine
D                        Em
Don't reach out for that bad medicine
Em   Am         D        Em
Try smiling or smile or smile
Em                       Am
Bad medicine get hold of
D                        Em
Bad medicine get hold of you#
Em             Am
Wipe away the tears
          D            Em
With the skin from my hide
Em             Am
Wipe away the tears
          D            Em
With the skin from my hide

[Verse]
      Am               Em
It's funny how people stare
          Am                  Em
When your back's against the wall
      Am               Em
It's funny how people stare
          Am                  Em
When your back's against the wall
  Am
I reach out my hand
   Em               Am           Em
I reach out my hand for that bad medicine
Am        Em
Don't you give into
Am        Em             Am            Em
Don't you give into that bad medicine
     Am           Em
That bad medicine
Am
Mmmm, bad medicine
Em