Chords
I Want It That Way

I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys was created by composers Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson. It is known for being a significant pop ballad of its time, generating widespread commercial and critical success. The song was released as part of the Millennium album in 1999. It topped the charts in more than 25 countries. However, the lyrics and their specific meaning have caused some confusion and debate among listeners and critics.

Key: E

Introduction: Em    C    G    Em    C    G    

difficulty
easy |||||
          Em        C    G  
You are     my fire
         Em         C  G  
The one     desire
         Em         C    G  
Believe    when I say
Em              D     G  
I want it that way
        Em         C     G         Em  
But we    are two worlds apart
         C      G            Em  
Can' t reach to your heart
        C     G  
When you say
      Em             D      G  
That I want it that way

            C  
Tell me why
                            D        Em  
(Ain' t nothin'  but a heartache)
            C  
Tell me why
                          D      Em  
(Ain' t nothin'  but a mistake)
             C  
(Tell me why)
                    D            G  
I never wanna hear you say
 Em             D      G  
(I want it that way)

      Em        C  G  
Am I    your fire
          Em        C  G  
Your one     desire
        Em             C      G  
Yes I know, it' s too late
     Em             D      G  
But I want it that way

            C  
Tell me why
                            D        Em  
(Ain' t nothin'  but a heartache)
            C  
Tell me why
                            D      Em  
(Ain' t nothin'  but a mistake)
             C  
(Tell me why)
                    D            G  
I never wanna hear you say
 Em             D      Bm  
(I want it that way)

Em                                  G/D  
Now I can see that we' re falling apart
             C                         Am      D  
From the way that it used to be, yeah
      Em                          G/D  
No matter the distance I want you to know
        C                         D  
That deep down inside of me...

          Em        C    G  
You are     my fire
         Em         C  G  
The one     desire
      C  
You are
                 D            G        Em          D  
You are, you are, you are  (I want it...)

D  
  Don' t wanna hear you (say)
D                            E     F#m  
Ain' t nothin'  but a heartache
D                            E    F#m  
Ain' t nothin'  but a mistake
D                    E            A  
I never wanna hear you say
F#m                E      A  
    I want it that way

            D  
Tell me why
                          E      F#m  
Ain' t nothin'  but a heartache
            D  
Tell me why
                          E    F#m  
Ain' t nothin'  but a mistake
            D  
Tell me why
                    E            A  
I never wanna hear you say
F#m            E      A  
I want it that way
            D  
Tell me why
                          E      F#m  
Ain' t nothin'  but a heartache
D                             E    F#m  
  Ain' t nothin'  but a mistake
            D  
Tell me why
                    E            A  
I never wanna hear you say
F#m            E      A  
I want it that way
        F#m             E      A  
Cause, I want it that way