"Reason to Live" by KISS (Crazy Nights, 1987)

 "Reason to Live" by KISS (Crazy Nights, 1987)

Key: C Major
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
Capo: No capo (transpose if needed for vocal range)
Chords Used: C, G, Am, F, Dm, Em, G/B, Fm
Note: Chords are placed above lyrics to align with vocal phrasing. Use a mid-tempo pop-rock strumming pattern (e.g., down-down-up-up-down, ~108 BPM per Chordify). The intro is keyboard-driven, but guitar chords work for rhythm. Listen to the album for timing and dynamics.

---

Intro
C G Am F (x2)
(Keyboard plays melody, guitar strums lightly or joins on second repeat)

Verse 1
C G
Out of love, there’s nobody around
Am F
All I hear is the sound of a broken heart
C G
Out of time, no more waitin’ for you
Am F
Now the hurtin’s through, and a new day starts

Pre-Chorus
Am G
And I feel a change in my life
F G
I sailed into dark and endless nights
Am G
And made it alive

Chorus
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Am F
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live
Am F
But it can’t be your love

Verse 2
C G
Out of touch with myself for so long
Am F
Now a feelin’ so strong comin’ over me
C G
Down the line, there’s a lesson I’ve learned
Am F
You can love and get burned if it has to be

Pre-Chorus
Am G
And I see a change in my life
F G
And I’m not alone when I’m strong inside
Am G
And I realize

Chorus
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Am F
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live
Am F
But it can’t be your love

Bridge
Dm C
And though it hurts so much to let you go
G/B Am
I’ve got to find my way, I’ve got to know
Dm C
There’s a light in my heart, and it’s shining through
F Fm
And it’s all because of you

Solo
C G Am F (x2)
(Solo by Bruce Kulick, C major pentatonic with bends)

Chorus
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Am F
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live
Am F
But it can’t be your love

Outro
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Am F
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
C G
Everybody’s got a reason to live
Am F
But it can’t be your love
C G
No, it can’t be your love
Am F
No, it can’t be your love
C G
No, it can’t be your love
(Repeat C, G, Am, F, fade out with “No, it can’t be your love”)

---

Notes

• Chords: The C, G, Am, F progression is consistent across Ultimate Guitar, Songsterr, and Cifra Club. The pre-chorus uses Am, G, F, G, and the bridge introduces Dm, C, G/B, F, Fm for emotional contrast. Chordify confirms the key (C major) and BPM (~108). For simplicity, you can skip G/B and play C in the bridge, as suggested by ChordsBase’s Simplify Chords. Power chords (C5, G5, A5, F5) can be used for a heavier feel, but open chords match the album’s polished tone.
• Playing Tips: The intro is keyboard-driven (synth by Paul Stanley); guitarists can strum C, G, Am, F lightly or wait for the verse. The chorus emphasizes the C chord for the hook. The solo (Bruce Kulick) uses C major pentatonic; Songsterr’s tab details it if needed. Use a clean or slightly overdriven tone (e.g., Fender Strat through a Roland JC-120) to match the 1980s pop-metal sound.
• Transposition: If C major is too high, try a capo on the 2nd fret and play Bb, F, Gm, Eb, or transpose to D major (D, A, Bm, G) using Cifra Club’s transposer.
• Context: "Reason to Live" is a standout power ballad from Crazy Nights, reflecting KISS’s pop-metal shift with heavy keyboard use, produced by Ron Nevison. Paul Stanley’s soulful vocals and the universal message (per Desmond Child, Songfacts) made it a fan favorite, often played during the 1987-88 tour but rarely since, as noted in Wikipedia.