Intro:

        (drum roll)

        (horns:)

        Eb              Ab/Eb
        / / / /  / / / /  / / / /  / / / /

        (band enters):

        Eb
        / / / /  / / / /

Verse 1:

        (electric guitar plays only those chords tagged with *)

        Ebsus4*     Eb    Ebsus4*       Eb
        A thousand hands    applaud tonight
        Fsus4*     Fm    Fsus4*             Fm
        I sing my songs    my star shines bright
        Gsus4*      Gm     Ab*
        I stop and smile   I take my bow
        Bb7sus4*
        I leave the stage and then somehow

Chorus 1:

             Eb                Cm
        Backstage I'm lonely, backstage I cry
        Ab                         Bb [N.C.]
        You've gone away and each night I seem to die a little

Verse 2:

        Out on that stage    I play the star
        I'm famous now   I've come so far
        A famous fool   I let love go
        I didn't know I'd miss you so

Chorus 2:

             Eb                Cm
        Backstage I'm lonely, backstage I cry
        Ab                     Bb            (Eb)
        Hating myself since I let you say goodbye

        Eb       Cm       Ab       Bb
        / / / /  / / / /  / / / /  / / / /

Bridge:

        Db [N.C.]
        Every night a different room
        Bb [N.C.]
        Every night a different club
        Eb                          Cm
        And yet I'm lonely all the time
        Ab [N.C.]
        When I sign my autograph
        Gb [N.C.]
        When I hold an interview
        Ab                       Bb
        Can't get you out of my mind

Verse 3:

        Come back my love   come back to me
        I need you now   so desperately
        What good is fame   it's just a game
        I'd give it all to be the same

Chorus 3/Coda:

             Eb                Cm
        Backstage I wait now, hoping I'll see
        Ab                         Bb                 Cm
        Your smiling face waiting there backstage for me
              Ab                                Bb
        Your smiling face waiting backstage for me
             Eb   Eb7/Db  Ab/C  Bb
        Backstage
             Eb   Eb7/Db  Ab/C  Bb   Ebsus4  Eb
        Backstage