🎆 About the Song
Released in 1995, Don’t Look Back in Anger became the anthem of the decade — defiant, nostalgic, and just vulnerable enough to sound sincere through all the swagger.
Noel steps up to the mic for this one, channelling Lennon through a pint of Guinness and a heart full of regret.
It’s a song about acceptance — letting go of the things that broke you and carrying on with a smirk.
Those piano chords, the sing-along chorus, the sneaky optimism hidden under the melancholy — it’s Britpop’s answer to Hey Jude.
It’s been sung at football matches, weddings, funerals, and street vigils. Somehow, it works for all of them.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords:C – F – G – Am – E7 – Fm – G7
- Verse: C – F – C – F – C – G – Am – E7 – F – Fm – C
- Chorus: F – G – C – Am – F – G – C – G7
- Strumming pattern: Big lazy Britpop swing — Down–Down–Up–Up–Down-Up at around 86 bpm.
- Tone: Strum from the wrist, not the elbow; keep it airy, not choppy.
- Dynamics: Start soft and build — by the time you hit “So Sally can wait…” everyone should be howling along.
- Optional trick: Arpeggiate the intro chords slowly (C → G → Am → E7 → F → Fm → C) to mimic that iconic piano opening.
- Sing tip: Don’t try to sound polished — this one’s about feeling, not finesse. Belt it, crack a little, mean it.
🧠 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Noel Gallagher admitted the chord progression and “So Sally can wait” lyric came to him in the bath.
- The opening piano chords are a deliberate nod to Imagine by John Lennon.
- It hit #1 in the UK and became Oasis’s eternal crowd-closer.
- After the 2017 Manchester attack, crowds sang it together as a symbol of unity — Noel said it was “the proudest and saddest moment” of his career.
🌈 Final Word
Play Don’t Look Back in Anger like a toast to everyone who ever hurt your heart and made you stronger.
Keep it big, keep it warm, and don’t worry if it goes slightly out of tune — that’s the Oasis way.
If no one’s singing along by verse two, sing louder until they do.
