Artist: Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mescaleros
Song: Forbidden City
Written: Joe Strummer
Album: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style

Background: From the debut album released by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros in 1999.
Author: Richard Grosser (grosserr@gmail.com)

Tuning: : Capo on 2nd fret
(Hence all chords are up two semitones, or a tone)

Chords:
C:   ======= 332010
F7:  ======= 130211
F:   ======= 133211
G7:  ======= 320001
G:   ======= 320003
Am:  ======= 002210

Notes:
1. All 7th chords are played with the chord oscillating between the 7th and Major form, 
the up and down strokes. Hence it's easier with barre chords (not shown in the 
as above).
2. Where the chords are shown with triplets in brackets ...it's a quick, forceful(forte) 
staccato rhythm.


(Intro)
[Tom-Tom & Bongos, over organ riff, leads into arpeggio chords]
C   F7   C  G7   F7   C(x3)
Okay, dream of freedom...


Verse 1:
C                     F7     C
Under the moon in the dragon room
G7                 F7     C
Inside the mind of a soul confined
C                            F7     C
Don't talk about soon in the dragon room
G7                F7      C   C(x3) F7(x3)
Under the scream of a jet machine
G7(x3)            Am(x3) C(x3) F7(x3)
Who knows in the hills,
C(x3)              G7(x6)
Who knows when she will


Chorus:
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,
       C            F7      C     G7(x3) C(x3)
...Oh, China, Yeah, China


Verse 2:
C                          F7     C
Gold silk in a loom in the dragon room
G                      F7      C
That silk that will be for the flag of the free
C(x3)            Am(x3) C(x3) F7(x3)
Who knows in the hills
C(x3)              G7(x3)
Who knows when she will


Chorus:
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
Am                       C                           G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out, ...oh, yeah


Refrain:
      C            F7  C        G7(x3) C(x3)
Yeah, China, Whoa-oh, China, ...Yeah, China
(Organ riff over gunfire masked by firecrackers)
      C            F7  C        G7(x3) C(x3)
Yeah ...they got lots of towers, ' Never pushed someone so far...


Chorus:
C                        Am                          F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
C                        Am                          F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
C                        Am                          F7
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out
C                        Am                          G7(x3)
When all the hidden pity in the forbidden city comes out,


Refrain:
C      F7  C
...Oh, China

(End)

Footnote:
This is still a very timely song, Joe! In 2008, ...even moreso than a decade ago. :-R