Dan’s Big Awesome Acoustic Songbook: Billy Joel Songs
April 2025 refresh
I play in the original key (D), but falsetto on the “getting very hard to stay”
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G | C/G | G |
→ |
Vox on the 3 of the chord on “living”
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
Well we’re | living here in | Allentown |
Am7 | D9sus4 | G | |
And they’re | closing all the | factories down |
Em7 | A | Bm | |
Out in | Bethlehem they’re | killing | time |
F#m/A | G6 | D/F# | A7sus4 | A |
Filling out | forms, | standing in | line |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
Well our | fathers fought the | Second World War |
Am7 | D9sus4 | G | |
Spent their | weekends on the | Jersey shore |
Em7 | A | Bm | |
Met our | mothers in the | US | O |
F#m/A | G6 | D/F# | Asus4 | A |
Asked them to | dance, | danced with them s | low |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
And we’re | living here in | Allentown |
F/A | G/B | C | G/C | C | |
But the | restlessness was | handed d | own |
Vox on the 5 of the chord on “getting very hard”
Am7 | D9sus4 | Em | G/B | C | D | |
And it’s | getting very | hard to st | ay |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G | C/G | G |
→ |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
Well we’re | waiting here in | Allentown |
Am7 | D9sus4 | G | |
For the | Pennsylvania | we never found |
Em7 | A | Bm | |
For the | promises our | teachers g | ave |
F#m/A | G6 | D/F# | A7sus4 | A |
If we worked | hard, | if we be | haved |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
So the | graduations | hang on the wall |
Am7 | D9sus4 | G | |
But they | never really | helped us at all |
Em7 | A | Bm | |
No they | never taught us | what was | real |
F#m/A | G6 | D/F# | A7sus4 | A |
Iron and | coke, | chromium st | eel |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
And we’re | waiting here in | Allentown |
F/A | G/B | C | G/C | C | |
But they’ve | taken all the | coal from the gr | ound |
Am | D9sus4 | Em | G/B | C | D | |
And the | union people | crawled a | way |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D |
→ |
F | G/F | F |
Every child | had a pret | ty good shot |
F | G/F | Bb/F |
To get at least as f | ar as their | old man got |
F | G/F | F |
But something ha | ppened on the | way to that place |
F | G/F | Cadd9 |
They threw an A | merican flag in o | ur face |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G | C/G | G |
→ |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
Well I’m | living here in | Allentown |
F/A | G/B | C | G/C | C | |
And it’s | hard to keep a | good man | down |
Am | D9sus4 | Em | G/B | C | D | |
But I | won’t be getting | up toda | y |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D | G/B | G |
→ |
Cadd9 | Em7 | D |
→ |
Instrumental bridge, more or less
F | G/F | F | F | G/F | Bb/F | F | G/F | F | F | G | C |
Am7 | D9sus4 | Em | G/B | C | D | |
And it’s | getting very | hard to st | ay |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | |
And we’re | living here in | Allentown |
Basically keep downstroke 16ths going the whole song
Chorus chords:
G/F == x897xx
F/C == x332xx
F/D == xx0565
Em7add4 | G | |
Em7add4 | G | |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
C | Csus4 | C |
→ | → |
Vox on the 4 of the chord
Em7add4 | G | |
Well you went | uptown riding in your | limousine |
Em7add4 | G | |
With your | fine Park Avenue c | lothes |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
You had the | Dom Perignon in your ha | nd |
C | Csus4 | C | |
And the spoon up your nose | → | → |
Em7add4 | G | |
Ooh, and when you | wake up in the morning with your h | ead on fire |
Em7add4 | G | |
And your | eyes too bloody to | see |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
Go on and | cry in your coffee but d | on’t |
C | Csus4 | C | |
Come bitchin’ to me | → | → |
Vox on the 3 of the chord (B if the chord is G/F)
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
Because you had to be a | big shot | , didn’t | you |
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
You h | ad to o | pen up | your | mouth |
G/F | G | F/D | G | |
You h | ad to be a | big shot, | d | idn’t you |
F/D | G | F/D | C |
All your | friends were | so knocked out |
F | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
You h | ad to have the l | ast word, | last | night |
F/C | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
You k | now what e | verything’s | about |
F | F/C | C | F/C | C | |
You | had to have a wh | ite h | ot s | potl | ight |
C | G/D | D | G/D | D | |
You | had to be a b | ig s | hot l | ast n | ight, whoa |
Em7add4 | G |
Em7add4 | G |
Yeah! |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
C | Csus4 | C |
→ | → |
Em7add4 | G | |
Yeah, they were | all impressed with your H | alston dress |
Em7add4 | G | |
And the | people that you knew at Ela | ine’s |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
And the | story of your latest suc | cess |
C | Csus4 | C | |
Kept ‘em so entertained | → | → |
Em7add4 | G | |
Aww, but now you | just don’t remember all the t | hings you said |
Em7add4 | G | |
And you’re | not sure you want to know |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
I’ll give you | one hint, honey you s | ure |
C | Csus4 | C | |
Did put on a show | → | → |
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
Because you had to be a | big shot | , didn’t | you |
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
You h | ad to prove | it to | the | crowd |
G/F | G | F/D | G | |
You h | ad to be a | big shot, | d | idn’t you |
F/D | G | F/D | C |
All your | friends were | so knocked out |
F | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
You h | ad to have the l | ast word, | last | night |
F/C | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
S | o much fun | to be | around |
F | F/C | C | F/C | C | |
You h | ad to have the front | page | bold | type |
C | G/D | D | G/D | D | |
You h | ad to be a b | ig s | hot l | ast n | ight, whoa |
Solo, with whoa
F | C | G | D |
x2 |
Em7add4 | G | |
Yeah, it’s | no big sin to stick your t | wo cents in |
Em7add4 | G | |
If you | know when to leave it a | lone |
Em7add4 | Bm/D | |
But you went | over the line, you couldn’t | see |
C | Csus4 | C | |
It was time to go home | → | → |
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
No no no no no no you had to be a | big shot | , didn’t | you |
G/F | F/C | G/F | F/C | |
You h | ad to o | pen up | your | mouth |
G/F | G | F/D | G | |
You h | ad to be a | big shot, | d | idn’t you |
F/D | G | F/D | C |
All your | friends were | so knocked out |
F | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
You h | ad to have the l | ast word, | last | night |
F/C | G/F | F/C | G/F | |
You k | now what e | verything’s | about |
F | F/C | C | F/C | C | |
You | had to have a wh | ite h | ot s | potl | ight |
C | G/D | D | G/D | D | |
You | had to be a b | ig s | hot l | ast n | ight, whoa |
With whoa
F | C | G | D |
x2 |
Em7add4 |
Originally in C, I play in A
Intro
G | D/F# | A | A |
x2 |
Vox on the 5
A | D/A |
Call me a joker, c | all me a fool |
D/A | A | |
R | ight at this moment I’m t | otally cool |
A | A/C# | D |
Clear as a | crystal, | sharp as a knife |
D | A |
I feel like I’m in the p | rime of my life |
G | D/F# |
Sometimes it feels like I’m g | oing too fast |
A/E | B7/D# |
I don’t know how long this f | eeling will last |
A/E | E | A |
Maybe it’s | only toni | ght |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to e | xtr | emes |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Too high or | too low there a | in’t no in | bet | weens |
G6 | F#7 | Bm | Bm/C# | Dm | |
And if I | stand or I | fall, i | t’s all or nothing a | t | all |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to | extr | emes |
A | D/A |
Sometimes I’m tired, | sometimes I’m shot |
D/A | A |
Sometimes I don’t know how m | uch more I got |
A | A/C# | D |
Maybe I’m | headed o | ver the hill |
D | A |
Maybe I set myself | up for the kill |
G | D/F# |
Tell me how much do you t | hink you can take |
A/E | B7/D# |
Until the heart in you’s s | tarting to break |
A/E | E | A |
Sometimes it feels | like it w | ill |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to e | xtr | emes |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Too high or | too low there a | in’t no in | bet | weens |
G6 | F#7 | Bm | Bm/C# | Dm | |
You can b | e sure when I’m | gone | I won’t be out there t | oo l | ong |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to | extr | emes |
Bridge
Vox on the 1 of the chord on “out of the darkness”
B | G | D | A |
Out of the darkness, | into the light, le | aving the scene of the c | rime |
B | G | D |
Either I’m wrong or I’m p | erfectly right every t | ime |
Vox up to the 5 of the chord on “somties I lie”
F#m | Dmaj7 |
Sometimes I lie awake n | ight after night |
A | E |
Coming apart at the | seams |
...and back to the 1 of the chord
B | G |
Eager to please, r | eady to fight |
D | A |
Why do I go to extr | emes |
Solo
G | D/F# | A | A |
x2 |
G6 | F#7 | Bm | Bm/C# | Dm | |
And if I | stand or I | fall, i | t’s all or nothing a | t | all |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to | extr | emes |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
No I | don’t know why | I go to | extr | emes |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Too high or | too low, there ain | ’t no in | bet | weens |
G6 | F#7 | Bm | Bm/C# | Dm | |
You can b | e sure when I’m | gone | I won’t be out there t | oo l | ong |
G | D/F# | A/E | A | |
Darling I | don’t know why | I go to | extr | emes |
G | D/F# | A |
I | don’t know why, I don’t know why |
G | D/F# | A |
I | don’t know why, I don’t know why |
G | D/F# | A | A |
x2 |
Originally in A (then C), I play in E capo 1 (then G capo 1)
Highest note is the b7 of the first key
Intro
E | E | E7 |
→ | → |
Am | A | Bsus2 | B | E |
→ | → |
E | E | E7 |
→ | → |
Am | A | Bsus2 | B | E |
→ | → |
G | B7 |
→ |
Vox on the 5 on “only”
E | E/G# | A | A | E/G# | |
If I o | nly had the | words to | tell you | → | → |
F#m7 | F#m7/E | D9 | B7 | B7/D# | |
If you | only had the time to u | nder | stand | → | → |
E | E/G# | A | A | E/G# | |
Though I | know it wouldn’t | change your | feelings | → | → |
F#m7 | B7sus4 | E | G | B7 | |
And I | know you’ll carry | on the best you | can | → | → |
E | E/G# | A | A | E/G# | |
If I | only had the | urge to | tell you | → | → |
F#m7 | F#m7/E | D9 | B7 | B7/D# | |
If you | only knew how hard it i | s to | say | → | → |
E | E/G# | A | A | E/G# | |
When the | simple lines have | all been | taken | → | → |
F#m7 | B7sus4 | E | E | D/F# | |
And the | radio re | peats them every | day | → | → |
G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
If I | never find the | song to | sing you | → | → |
Am7 | Am7/G | F9 | D7 | D7/F# | |
If you | always find it h | ard to compre | hend | → | → |
G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
Well you | know there wouldn’t | be much | meaning | → | → |
Am7 | D7sus4 | G | G | G/A | |
If I | had to sing those | tired words a | gain | → | → |
Bridge
B7 | B7/C# | B7/D# | Em |
Life, | goes | on and | on |
D | D/F# | G | Gmaj7 | |
And to | night will | soon be | gone |
Cmaj7 | Bm7 | |
But if we | try |
Am7 | Dsus4 | D | Dsus2 | D | |
We can be | sure | → | → | → | → |
G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
If I | only had the | words to | tell you | → | → |
Am7 | Am7/G | F9 | D7 | D7/F# | |
If you | only had the time to u | nder | stand | → | → |
G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
But I | only have these | arms to | hold you | → | → |
Am7 | D7sus4 | G | |
And it’s | all that you can | ask of any | man |
Other bridge
G | G | G7 |
→ | → |
Cm | C | Dsus2 | D |
→ | → |
G | C | F | Am | D | C/D |
Laa, | la la | la | laa la la | la |
G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
If I | only had the | words to | tell you | → | → |
Am7 | Am7/G | F9 | D7 | |
If you | only had the t | ime to under | stand |
D7/F# | G | G/B | C | C | G/B | |
Oh b | ut I | only have these | arms to | hold you | → | → |
Am7 | D7 | G | G7 | |
And it’s | all that you can | ask of any | man |
Cm | C | Dsus2 | D | G |
→ | → |
Cm | C | Dsus2 | D | G |
→ | → |
Originally in D, I play in A capo 2.
A |
A | |
If it | seems like I’ve been lost in let’s remember |
If you think I’m feeling older and missing my younger days
D | |
Oh, then you | should have known me much better |
Cause my past is something that never
A | |
Got in my | way oh no |
A | |
Still I | would not be here now if I never had the hunger |
And I’m not ashamed to say the wild boys were my friends
D | |
Cause I | never felt the desire till their music set me on fire |
E6 | D | |
And then I was | saved, | yeah |
E6 | |
That’s why I’m keeping the | faith |
D |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah |
A | |
Keeping the | faith |
A | |
We wore | matador boots |
Only Flagg Brothers had them with the Cuban heel
Iridescent socks with the same color shirt
And a tight pair of chinos
D | |
I | put on my shark skin jacket |
You know the kind with the velvet collar
A | |
And ditty-bop | shades |
I took a fresh pack of Luckies and a mint called Sen-Sen
My old man's Trojans and his Old Spice after shave
D | |
Combed my | hair in a pompadour |
Like the rest of the Romeos wore
E6 | D | |
A permanent | wave | yeah |
E6 | |
We were keeping the | faith |
D |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah |
A | |
Keeping the | faith |
Bridge
E | D | A | |
You can | get just so | much from a | good thing |
E | D | A | |
You can | linger too | long in your | dreams |
E | D | A | |
Say | goodbye to the | oldies but | goodies |
Bm7 | |
Cause the | good old days weren’t always good |
E7 | |
And | tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems |
A |
Learned stickball as a formal education |
Lost a lot of fights but it taught me how to lose O.K.
D | |
I | heard about sex but not enough |
A | |
I found you could dance and still look tough any | way |
I found out a man ain’t just being macho
Ate an awful lot of late night drive-in food drank a lot of take-home pay
D | |
I | thought I was the Duke of Earl |
When I made it with a red-haired girl
E6 | D | |
In a Chevrol | et |
E6 | |
We were keeping the | faith |
D |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah |
A | |
Keeping the | faith |
Bridge
E | D | A | |
You can | get just so | much from a | good thing |
E | D | A | |
You can | linger too | long in your | dreams |
E | D | A | |
Say | goodbye to the | oldies but | goodies |
Bm7 | |
Cause the | good old days weren’t always good |
Hang this line if not doing a solo
E7 | |
And | tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems |
Instrumental, listed here with lyrics but I usually skip if
a solo is not appropriate.
E | D | A | |
You can | get just so | much from a | good thing |
E | D | A | |
You can | linger too | long in your | dreams |
E | D | A | |
Say | goodbye to the | oldies but | goodies |
Bm7 | |
Cause the | good old days weren’t always good |
E7 | |
And | tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems |
A | |
Now I | told you my reasons for the whole revival |
Now I’m going outside to have an
Ice cold beer in the shade
D | |
I’m going to | listen to my 45’s |
Ain’t it wonderful to be alive
When the rock 'n' roll
E6 | D |
Plays | yeah |
E6 | D | |
When the memory | stays, | yeah |
E6 | |
I’m keeping the | faith |
D |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah |
A | |
Keeping the | faith |
Fade on the I
Originally in D, I play in A capo 3
Intro
Siren noises are roughly...
F |
Piano intro, skip on guitar
A | Gadd9 | D6/F# | F(#11) | |
A | G6/9 | D6/F# | F(#11) | |
A/C# | Dmaj7 | A/E | D/F# | |
E/G# | D/F# | A | A/G# | D/F# |
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
I’ve seen the | lights go out on | Broadway |
F#m | Dadd9 | E | Esus4 | E | Dadd9 |
I saw the | Empire State laid | low |
C#m7 | F#m |
And life went on beyond the P | alisades |
A/E | E | |
They all bought | Cadillacs |
Dadd9 | D | E | |
And left there | long ago |
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
They held a | concert out in | Brooklyn |
F#m | Dadd9 | E | Esus4 | E | Dadd9 |
To watch the | island bridges | blow |
Hanging stops
A/C# | D |
They turned our | power down |
A/E | D/F# |
And drove us u | nderground |
E/G# | D/F# | A |
But we went | right on with the s | how |
Now the rock starts, on guitar change Bm to G/B
A | F#m | A | F#m | A | A/E | E | A/E | E |
→ | → | → | → | → | → |
x2
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
I’ve seen the | lights go out on | Broadway |
F#m | D | E | A/E | E |
I saw the | ruins at my | feet |
C#m7 | F#m |
You know we almost didn’t | notice it |
A/E | E | |
We’d seen it | all the time |
D | D | E | |
On Forty- | Second Street |
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
They burned the | churches up in | Harlem |
F#m | D | E | A/E | E |
Like in that | Spanish civil | war |
A/C# | D |
The flames were e | verywhere |
A/E | D/F# |
But no one | really cared |
E/G# | D/F# | A |
It always | burned up there before |
A | F#m | A | F#m | A | A/E | E | A/E | E |
→ | → | → | → | → | → |
x2
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
I’ve seen the | lights go out on | Broadway |
F#m | D | E | A/E | E | Dadd9 |
I watched the | mighty skyline | fall |
C#m7 | F#m |
The boats were waiting at the | Battery |
A/E | E | |
The union w | ent on strike |
D | D | E | |
They never | sailed at all |
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
They sent a car | rier out from | Norfolk |
F#m | D | E | A/E | E | |
And | picked the | Yankees up for | free |
A/C# | D |
They said that | Queens could stay |
A/E | D/F# |
They blew the B | ronx away |
E/G# | D/F# | A |
And sank Man | hattan out at s | ea |
A | F#m | A | F#m | A | A/E | E | A/E | E |
→ | → | → | → | → | → |
x2
Hanging stop on “lights”, mellow out
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
You know those | lights were bright on | Broadway |
F#m | D | E | Esus4 | E | Dadd9 |
But that was so | many years ago |
C#m7 | F#m |
Before we all lived here in | Florida |
A/E | E | Dadd9 | D | E | |
Before the | Mafia | took over | Mexico |
A | D/A | A | A | E/G# |
There are not | many who re | member |
F#m | Dadd9 | E |
They say a | handful still | survive |
A/C# | D |
To tell the | world about |
A/E | D/F# |
The way the l | ights went out |
E | D/F# | F |
And keep the me | mory alive |
Repeat intro
A | Gadd9 | D6/F# | F(#11) |
A | G6/9 | D6/F# | F(#11) |
A/C# |
Originally in Dm, I play in Am capo 3
Play Bdim as x2313x
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
With ooh and mmm
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Am | Dm7 |
Anthony works in the | grocery store |
G | G/B | C |
Savin’ his | pennies for | someday |
Am | Dm7 |
Mama Leone left a | note on the door |
G | G/B | C | |
She said, | sonny, move | out to the | country |
Am | |
Ah, but | workin’ too hard can give you |
D7 | |
A h | eart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack |
F | G |
You oughta know by | now |
Am | Dm7 |
Who needs a house out in | Hackensack? |
G | G/B | C | |
Is t | hat all you ge | t for your m | oney? |
F | G | |
And it s | eems such a waste of | time |
E7 | Am | |
If t | hat’s what it’s all abo | ut |
F | Bdim | E7 | Am | |
Mama if | that’s movin’ up then | I’m | movin’ | out |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Mmm, I’m movin’ o | ut |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Am | Dm7 |
Sergeant O’Leary is | walkin’ the beat |
G | G/B | C | |
At n | ight he be | comes a barte | nder |
Am | Dm7 | |
He works at | Mister Cacciatore’s down on | Sullivan Street |
G | G/B | C | |
Ac | ross from the | medical | center |
Am | D7 | |
Yeah, and he’s | tradin’ in his Chevy for a | Cadillac-ack-ack-ack-ack |
F | G |
You oughta know by | now |
Am | Dm7 | |
And | if he can’t drive with a | broken back |
G | G/B | C | |
At le | ast he can | polish the | fenders |
F | G | |
And it s | eems such a waste of | time |
E7 | Am |
If that’s what it’s all | about |
F | Bdim | E7 | Am | |
Mama if | that’s movin’ up then | I’m | movin’ | out |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Mmm, I’m movin’ o | ut |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Am |
You should never argue with a |
D7 |
Crazy mi-mi-mi-mi-mind |
F | G |
You oughta know by | now |
Am | Dm7 | |
You can | pay Uncle Sam with the | overtime |
G | G/B | C | |
Is t | hat all you | get for your | money? |
F | G | |
And if t | hat’s what you have in | mind |
E7 | Am | |
Yeah, if t | hat’s what you’re all | about |
F | Bdim | E7 | Am | |
Good | luck movin’ up ‘cause | I’m | movin’ | out |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Mmm, I’m movin’ o | ut |
Am | Dm | G | G/B | C |
Outro
A | D | E | A |
Tabbed in drop D
Intro
-----------------2-- ---------3--3--3-3-- ---------4--4--4-2-- -0-0-0-0-5--5--5-0-- ---------0--0--0---- 0-0-0-0--000000-----
-----3--/-10-10-10-10-10-8-8-6--- -3-1-3--/-10-10-10-10-10-8-8-6--- -4-2-3--/--8--8--8--8--8-8-8-7--- -0-0-2--/-10-10-10-10-10-7-7-8--- -0-0-3--/----------------8-8-3-4- ---------------------------------
That was roughly as follows, note two different F9’s
D | D | G | D | ||
E7 | D7 | C9 | F9 | F9 | Bb |
→ |
D | D/F# |
Got a call from an | old friend |
G | |
We used to be | real close |
A | D | G |
Said he couldn’t go on the American | way |
D | D/F# |
Closed the shop, sold the | house |
G | |
Bought a ticket to the | West Coast |
A | D |
Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L. | A. |
Rpt second part of intro
E7 | D7 | C9 | F9 | F9 | Bb |
→ |
x2
D | D/F# | G |
I don’t need you to | worry for me cause I’m | alright |
A | D | G |
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come | home |
D | D/F# | G |
I don’t care what you | say anymore, this is | my life |
A | Bm |
Go ahead with your own life, and leave me | alone |
F# | |
I never said you had to offer me a | second chance |
D7 | E7 |
I never said I was a victim of | circumstance |
G | D/F# | F#7 | Bm | Bm/A |
I still be | long, | don’t get me | wrong |
E7sus4 | E7 |
And you can | speak your mind |
G6 | A | G6 | A | |
But | not | on | my | time |
D | D/F# |
They will tell you you | can’t sleep alone in a |
G |
Strange place |
A | D |
Then they’ll tell you you can’t sleep with somebody | else |
D | D/F# | G |
But sooner or | later you sleep in your | own space |
A | D |
Either way it’s okay you wake up with your | self |
Rpt second part of intro
E7 | D7 | C9 | F9 | F9 | Bb |
→ |
x2
D | D/F# | G |
I don’t need you to | worry for me cause I’m | alright |
A | D | G |
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come | home |
D | D/F# | G |
I don’t care what you | say anymore, this is | my life |
A | Bm |
Go ahead with your own life, and leave me | alone |
F# | |
I never said you had to offer me a | second chance |
D7 | E7 |
I never said I was a victim of | circumstance |
G | D/F# | F#7 | Bm | Bm/A |
I still be | long, | don’t get me | wrong |
E7sus4 | E7 |
And you can | speak your mind |
G6 | A | G6 | A | |
But | not | on | my | time |
D | G | G | D | Em7 | D |
I don’t care what you say anymore, this is | my life |
A | D |
Go ahead with your own life, and leave me | alone |
Rpt second part of intro to fade
E7 | D7 | C9 | F9 | F9 | Bb |
→ | Keep it to yourself it’s my life |
Originally in C, I play in G capo 3
Bridge vox are a lot of 5
C | D | Em | C | D | G |
C | D | Em | C | D | |
C | D | Em |
Come out Virginia, | don’t let me | wait |
C | D | G | |
You | Catholic girls start m | uch too | late |
C | D | Em | |
But | sooner or later it c | omes down to | fate |
C | D | |
I | might as well be the | one |
C | D | Em | |
Well, they | showed you a statue, | told you to | pray |
C | D | G | |
They | built you a temple and l | ocked you | away |
C | D | Em | |
But | they never told you the | price that you | pay |
C | D | |
For | things that you might have | done |
G | |
Only the good die | young |
C | D | G |
That’s what I said |
G | C | |
Only the good | die | young |
D | G | |
Only the good | die youn | g |
C | D | Em | |
You might have | heard I run with a | dangerous | crowd |
C | D | G | |
We | ain’t too pretty we | ain’t too | proud |
C | D | Em | |
We | might be laughing a | bit too l | oud |
C | D | |
But | that never hurt no | one |
C | D | Em | |
So come | on Virginia sh | ow me a | sign |
C | D | G |
Send up a signal I’ll | throw you a | line |
C | D | Em | |
The | stained-glass curtain you’re | hiding be | hind |
C | D |
Never lets in the | sun |
G | |
Darlin’ only the good die | young |
C | D | G |
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wh | oa |
G | C | |
I tell ya only the good | die | young |
D | G | |
Only the good | die young |
Bridge
D | |
You got a | nice white dress and a |
C | G |
Party on your confirmati | on |
A | C | |
You got a | brand new soul, and a cro | ss of gold |
D | |
But Vir | ginia they didn’t give you |
C | G | |
Q | uite enough informati | on |
A | |
You didn’t c | ount on me |
C | |
When you were counting on your | rosary |
G/B | C | G/B | Am7 |
Oh | woah | woah | woah |
C | D | Em | |
They | say there’s a heaven for | those who will | wait |
C | D | G |
Some say it’s better but | I say it | ain’t |
C | D | Em | |
I’d rather | laugh with the sinners than | cry with the | saints |
C | D | |
The | sinners are much more | fun |
G | |
You know that only the good die | young |
C | D | G |
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wh | oa |
G | C | |
I tell ya only the good | die | young |
D | G | |
Only the good | die young |
Solo on bridge chords if appropriate
D | C | G |
A | C | |
Bridge
D | |
You say your | mother told you all that I could |
C | G |
Give you was a reput | ation |
A | |
Awww, she never | cared for me |
C | |
But did she ever say a | prayer for me? |
G/B | C | G/B | Am7 |
Oh | woah | woah | woah |
Rhythm change in the melody here
C | D | Em | |
Come out | come out come out Vir | ginia don’t l | et me wait |
C | D | G |
You Catholic | girls start | much too late |
C | D | Em |
Sooner or later it | comes down to | fate |
C | D | |
I | might as well be the | one |
G | |
You know that only the good die | young |
C | D | G |
Tell you ba | by |
G | C | |
You know that only the good | die | young |
D | G | |
Only the good | die young |
G | C | |
Only the | goooo... |
D | G | |
Only the | good die young |
G | C | |
Oooh... | ooooh... |
D | G | |
Oooh... | oooh... |
Loosely
Dm7 | Bdim7 |
In time
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
Fmaj7 | C/E | D7 | G |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
F | F/G | ||
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
It’s ni | ne o’cl | ock on a | Saturday |
F | C/E | D7 | G |
The regular c | rowd shuffles | in |
C | G/B | Fadd9/A | C/G | |
There’s | an old man | sitting | next to me |
Fadd9 | F/G | C | |
Makin’ | love to his | tonic and | gin |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | ||
F | F/G | C | C | F/C | F/C |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
He says, | son can you | play me a | memory? |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
I’m | not really | sure how it go | es |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
But it’s | sad and it’s | sweet and I | knew it complete |
F | F/G | C | |
When | I wore a | younger man’s | clothes |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | F |
La la | la diddy | da |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | G | G/F | C/E | G7/D |
La | La diddy | da da d | um |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
Sing us a | song, you’re the | piano man |
F | C/E | D7 | G |
Sing us a son | g to nig | ht |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
Well we’re | all in the | mood for a | melody |
F | F/G | C | |
And | you’ve got us fe | eling all | right |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
F | F/G | ||
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | G/B | F/A | C | |
Now Joh | n at the | bar is a | friend of mine |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
He gets | me my | drinks for | free |
C | G/B | |
And he’s | quick with a | joke or to |
F/A | C/G |
Light up your | smoke |
F | F/G | C | F/C | |
But there’s | some place that | he’d rather | be |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
He says, | Bill I be | lieve this is | killing me |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
As a sm | ile ran a | way from his | face |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
Well I’ | m sure that I | could be a | movie star |
F | F/G | C | |
If | I could get | out of this | place |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | F | |
Oh | La la | la diddy | da |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | G | G/F | C/E | G7/D |
La | La diddy | da da d | um |
C | G/B | F/A | C | |
Now Pau | l is a | real estate | novelist |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
Who nev | er had | time for a | wife |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
And he’s | talking with | Davy, who’s | still in the | Navy |
F | F/G | C | |
And pro | bably w | ill be for | life |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | ||
F | F/G | C | C | F/C | F/C |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
And the | waitress is | practicing | politics |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
As the | businessmen | slowly get | stoned |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
Yes they’re | sharing a | drink they call | loneliness |
F | F/G | C | |
But it’s | better than | drinking a | lone |
Solo
Am | Am/G | D/F# | Dm/F |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | Dm/F |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | D |
G | G7/F | C/E | G/D |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
Sing us a | song, you’re the | piano man |
F | C/E | D7 | G |
Sing us a son | g to nig | ht |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
Well we’re | all in the | mood for a | melody |
F | F/G | C | |
And | you’ve got us fe | eling all | right |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
F | F/G | ||
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | G/B | F/A | C | |
It’s a | pretty good | crowd for a | Saturday |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
And the | manager | gives me a | smile |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
‘Cause he | knows that it’s | me they’ve been | coming to | see |
F | F/G | C | F/C | |
To for g | et about | life for a | while |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
And the | piano | sounds like a | carnival |
F | C/E | D7 | G | |
And the | microphone | smells like a | beer |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
And they | sit at the | bar and put | bread in my | jar |
F | F/G | C | |
And say | man what are | you doing | here? |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | F | |
Oh | La la | la diddy | da |
Am | Am/G | D/F# | G | G/F | C/E | G7/D |
La | La diddy | da da d | um |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
Sing us a | song, you’re the | piano man |
F | C/E | D7 | G |
Sing us a son | g to nig | ht |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G | |
Well we’re | all in the | mood for a | melody |
F | F/G | C | |
And | you’ve got us fe | eling all | right |
C | G/B | F/A | C/G |
F | F/G | ||
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
C | F/C | Cmaj7 | F/C |
Intro
G | G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
→ | → | → |
G | G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
→ | → | → |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | Dm |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7/D | Dm |
Dm6 | Gm/D | C#dim7/D | D |
Solo acoustic it makes more sense to leave out the “pressure”’s in the verse
Vox on 5 3 of the chord on “you have”
G | D |
You have to learn to pace yours | elf |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
G | D |
You’re just like everybody | else |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
Vox on 4 3 2 of the chord on “you’ve only”
Gm | C | C#dim7 | Dm | A/C# | Dm | C |
You’ve only | had to | run so | far, | so | good |
Bb | F/A | G7 |
But you will | come to a | place |
A7/E | A7/C# | Dm | |
Where the | only | thing you | feel |
C | Bb | F/A | |
Are | loaded | guns in your | face |
A7/E | A7/C# | |
And you’ll | have to | deal with |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | Dm |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7/D | Dm |
Dm6 | Gm/D | C#dim7/D | D |
G | D |
You used to call me para | noid |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
G | D |
But even you cannot a | void |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
Gm | C | C#dim7 | Dm | A/C# | Dm | C |
You turned the | tap dance | into | your | crus | ade |
Bb | F/A | G7 |
Now here you | are with your | faith |
A7/E | A7/C# | Dm | |
And your | Peter | Pan adv | ice |
C | Bb | F/A | |
You | have no | scars on your | face |
A7/E | A7/C# | |
And you | cannot ha | ndle |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | Dm |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7/D | Dm |
Dm6 | Gm/D | C#dim7/D | D |
Bridge
G | Dmaj7/F# |
All grown up and | no place to go |
G | Dmaj7/F# |
Psych one, psych two, | what do you know? |
F | Cmaj7/E |
All your life is | channel thirteen |
Cm/Eb | G/D | D |
Sesame Street, | what does it | mean? |
G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
I’ll tell you what it means | Pres | sure | → |
G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
G | D |
Don’t ask for help, you’re all a | lone |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
G | D |
You’ll have to answer to your | own |
C/D | D | C | D |
Pres | sure | → |
Gm | C | C#dim7 | Dm | A/C# | Dm | C |
I’m sure you’ll | have some | cosmic | rati | ona | le |
Bb | F/A | G7 |
But here you | are in the | ninth |
A7/E | A7/C# | Dm | |
Two men | out and | three men | on |
C | Bb | F/A | |
No | where to | look but in | side |
A7/E | A7/C# | |
Where we | all res | pond to |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | Dm |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7/D | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | C#dim7/D | D |
Bridge, first half instrumental
G | Dmaj7/F# |
G | Dmaj7/F# |
F | Cmaj7/E |
All your life is | Time Magazine |
Cm/Eb | G/D | D |
I read it too, | what does it | mean? |
Bizarre instrumental verse
G | G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
→ | → | → |
G | G | D | C/D | D | C | D |
Press | ure → | → |
Gm | C | C#dim7 | Dm | A/C# | Dm | C |
I’m sure you’ll | have some | cosmic | rati | ona | le |
Bb | F/A | G7 |
But here you | are with your | faith |
A7/E | A7/C# | Dm | |
And your | Peter | Pan adv | ice |
C | Bb | F/A | |
You | have no | scars on your | face |
A7/E | A7/C# | |
And you | cannot ha | ndle |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | Dm |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7/D | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | C#dim7/D | D |
Dm | Gm6/D | C#dim7 | Dm |
Pressure |
Dm6 | Gm/D | A7/D | D |
One two | three four |
Dm |
Pressure |
F | Gm7 | C7 |
Bb/F | F | C7 |
F | Gm7/F |
A bottle of white, | a bottle of red |
C/F | Bb/F | F |
Perhaps a bottle of ro | se instead |
C | C/Bb | F/A |
Get a table | near the | street |
F/A | Gm7 | C | |
In our | old fa | miliar | place |
Gm7 | C7 | Gm7 | Bb/C | C | Bb/C |
You and | I, | face to | face, | um umm |
F | Gm7/F |
A bottle of red, a | bottle of white |
C/F | Bb/F | F |
It all depends on your | appet | ite |
G | F/A | G/B | C |
I’ll meet you | anytime | you | want |
Bb/D | C/E | F | |
In our I | tali | an Re | staurant |
Bb/F | Bb/F |
Sax solo
Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 |
Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 |
Ebmaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Abmaj7 | Abmaj7 |
Ebmaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Abmaj7 | Abmaj7 |
C/D | C/D | C/D | C/D |
G | D/G |
Things are okay with | me these days |
G7 | G9 |
Got a good job, | got a good office |
C7 | F |
Got a new wife, | got a new life |
Am7 | D7 | |
And the | family’s fine |
G | D/G |
Oh, we lost touch | long ago |
G7 | G9 |
You lost weight I | did not know |
C7 | F | Am7 | D7 |
You could ever | look so nice after | so much time |
Eb | Bb | F | |
Do you re | member those days hanging | out at the village | green |
Eb | Bb | F |
Engineer boots, leather | jackets and tight blue | jeans |
Eb | Bb | F | |
Woah you drop a | dime in the box play the | song about New Or | leans |
Eb | Bb |
Cold beer, | hot lights |
C | D | G |
My sweet ro | mantic teenage | nights |
Horn solo on the same chords as the previous verse
G | D/G | G7 | G9 |
C7 | F | Am7 | D7 |
G | D/G | G7 | G9 |
C7 | F | Am7 | D7 |
D7 |
Piano solo, the first G is held for a long time
G |
G | F | C/E | D |
G | F | C/E | D |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G |
Brenda and Eddie were the popular steadies |
D | D | C | |
And the | king and the queen of the prom |
G | G7/B | C |
Riding around with the | car top down and the | radio on |
G | D | D | C |
Nobody looked any | finer |
G | C | |
Or was | more of a hit at the | Parkway Diner |
G | F | E |
We never knew we could | want more than that out of | life |
Am | G/B | C | D | G | |
Surely | Brenda and | Eddie would | always know | how to sur | vive |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G | D | D | C |
Brenda and Eddie were still going steady in the | summer of seventy five |
G | G7/B | C |
When they decided the | marriage would be at the | end of July |
G | D | D | C |
Everyone said they were | crazy |
G | C |
Brenda you know that you’re | much too lazy |
G | F | E | |
And | Eddie could never af | ford to live that kind of | life |
Am | G/B | C | D | G | |
Oh, but | there we were | waving | Brenda and | Eddie good | bye |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
Well, they | got an a | partment with | deep pile | carpets |
D | G | |
And a | couple of paintings from | Sears |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
A | big water | bed that they | bought with the | bread |
D | G | |
They had | saved for a couple of | years |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
They | started to | fight when the | money got | tight |
D | Em | |
And they | just didn’t count on the | tears |
A9 | C/D | |
Woh | oh, woh | oh, yeah rock and roll! |
Sax solo with awesome bass
G | G | D | D |
G | G7/B | C | C |
G | D | G | C |
G | F | E | E |
Am | G/B | C | C/D |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
Well, they | lived for a | while in a | very nice | style |
D | G | |
But it’s | always the same in the end |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
They | got a di | vorce as a | matter of | course |
D | G | |
And they | parted the closest of friends |
F/C | C | F/C | C | |
Then the | king and the | queen went | back to the | green |
D | Em | A9 | C/D | |
But you can | never go back there a | gain, oh | oh, oh | oh |
G | D | D | C |
Brenda and Eddie had had it already by the | summer of seventy five |
G | G7/B | |
From the | high to the low to the | end of the show |
C | |
For the | rest of their lives |
G | D | D | C | |
They | couldn’t go back to the | greasers |
G | C | |
The | best they could do was pick | up their pieces |
G | F | E |
We always knew they would | both find a way to get | by |
Am | G/B | C | D |
That’s all I | heard about | Brenda and | Eddie |
Am | G/B | C | D |
Can’t tell you | more cause I | told you al | ready |
Am | G/B | C | D | G | |
And | here we are | waving | Brenda and | Eddie good | bye |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
G | F | C/E | D |
Oh | oh, oh | oh, oh | oh oh |
Bass notes are all that’s really played here,
chords somewhat fabricated
F | F/E | D | C | G/B | Am | C | Bb | Am | G | F | F/E |
F | Gm7/F | C/F | Bb | F |
Yeah |
C | C | Bb | F/A |
F/A | Bb | C | |
C | Gm7 | C | Gm7 |
Bb | C | Bb/C | |
F | Gm7/F |
A bottle of red, | oooh a bottle of white |
C/F | Bb/F | F |
Whatever kind of mood you’re | in to | night |
G | G/A | G/B | C |
I’ll meet you | anytime | you | want |
G | F/A | G/B | C |
I’ll meet you | anytime | you | want |
Bb/D | C/E | F | |
In our I | tali | an Re | staurant |
Sax solo
Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 |
Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 |
G | D/F# | Em | C | Bb |
x2 |
G | D/F# | |
Well, I’m | shameless when it comes to | loving you |
Em | C | Bb | |
I’ll do anything you | want me to, I’ll do anything at | all |
G | D/F# | |
And I’m | standing, here for all the | world to see |
Em | C | Bb | |
Aw, there ain’t that much | left of me that has very far to | fall |
Vox on the 6 of the chord on “I’m”
D | B | |
You know now | I’m not a man who’s | ever been |
Em | Am7 | |
Inse | cure about the world I’ve been | living in |
D | B | |
I | don’t break easy I | have my pride |
Em | F | F# | |
But if | you need to be | satis | fied |
G | D/F# | |
I’m s | hameless baby I don’t | have a prayer |
Em | |
Every time I see you sta | nding there |
C | Bb | |
I go down upon my | knees |
G | D/F# | |
And I’m | changing swore I’d | never compromise |
Em | |
Aw, but you convinced me o | therwise |
C | Bb | |
I’ll do anything you | please |
D | B | |
You see in | all my life I’ve | never found |
Em | Am7 | |
What I c | ouldn’t resist what I couldn’t t | urn down |
D | B | |
I could | walk away from anyone I | ever knew |
Em | F | Gm | Am | |
But I | can’t walk away from | you |
Bb | Am | |
I have | never let anything have this much | control over me |
Vox stay on the 3 of the chord
Ab | Eb | |
I | worked too hard to call my life my | own |
Bb | Am | |
And I’ve | made myself a world and it’s worked so | perfectly |
Vox stay on the 3 of the chord for this whole line and into the next
Ab | |
But it’s | your world now I can’t refuse |
Am | D7 |
I’ve never had so much | to lose |
Solo if appropriate
G | D | Em | C | Bb | |
Oh, I’m | shameless |
G | D | Em | C | Bb |
Em | D | C | Bb |
D | |
You know it | should be easy for a |
B |
Man who’s strong |
Em | Am7 | |
To say h | e’s sorry or ad | mit when he’s wrong |
D | B | |
I n | ever lost anything I | ever missed |
Em | F | |
But | I’ve never been in | love like this |
F |
It’s outta my hands |
G | D/F# | |
I’m sham | eless, I don’t have the | power now |
Em | C | Bb | |
I don’t want it | anyhow so I’ve got to let it go |
G | D/F# | |
I’m sham | eless, shameless as a ma | n can be |
Em | |
You could make a total f | ool of me |
C | Bb | |
I just wanted you to know |
G | D/F# | Em | C | Bb | |
Oh, I’m | shameless |
G | D/F# | Em | C | Bb |
Intro
A | D | D | D | D |
→ | x2 |
Vox on the 1
A | D | E | A |
Oh, I didn’t want to do it but I got too | lonely |
A | D | E | A |
Had to call you up in the middle of th | e | night |
Vox on the 3 of the chord on “know it’s awful”
D | G | D | G | A | D | A | D |
I know it’s awful hard t | o | try to make love long | distance | → |
C | Em |
But I really needed | stimulation |
G | G/B | A | G/B | A/C# |
Though it was only my ima | g | in | at | ion |
Vox on 1 7 on “it’s just”
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the rea | l | thing |
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the r | eal | thing |
Vox up to 3 1 on “sometimes”
D | A | A | Bm |
Somet | imes a f | an | tasy |
G | A | Csus4 |
Is a | ll you | need |
Csus4 | Fmaj9 | Csus4 | Fmaj9 |
A | D | E | A |
When am I gonna take control get a hold of m | y e | motions |
A | D | E | A |
Why does it only seem to hit me in the middle of t | he | night |
D | G | D | G | A | D | A | D |
You told me there’s a numb | er | I can always dial for a | ss | istance | → |
C | Em |
I don’t want to deal with | outside action |
G | G/B | A | G/B | A/C# |
Only you can give me s | ati | sfa | ct | ion |
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the rea | l | thing |
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the r | eal | thing |
D | A | A | Bm |
Somet | imes a f | an | tasy |
G | A | Csus4 |
Is a | ll you | need |
Csus4 | Fmaj9 | Csus4 | Fmaj9 |
Solo
Dsus4 | Gmaj7 | Dsus4 | C | C | C |
A | D | E | A |
Sure it would be better if I had you here t | o | hold me, but but but but |
A | D | E | A |
Be better baby but believe me it’s the next best | thing |
D | G | D | G | A | D | A | D |
I’m sure there’s many times yo | u’ve w | anted me to hear your | s | ecrets | → |
C | Em |
Don’t be afraid to say the | words that’ll move me |
G | G/B | A | G/B | A/C# |
Anytime you want to t | ell | them | to | me |
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the rea | l | thing |
D | A | A | Bm |
It’s | just a f | an | tasy |
G | A | A | Bm |
It’s | not the r | eal | thing |
D | A | A | Bm |
Somet | imes a f | an | tasy |
G | A | Csus4 |
Is a | ll you | need |
Csus4 |
It’s just a fantasy (it’s just a fantasy) |
Fmaj9 |
It’s not the real thing (it’s not the real thing) |
Csus4 |
It’s just a fantasy (it’s just a fantasy) |
Fmaj9 |
It’s not the real thing (it’s not the real thing) |
Dsus4 |
It’s just a fantasy (it’s just a fantasy) |
Gmaj7 |
It’s not the real thing (it’s not the real thing) |
Dsus4 |
It’s just a fantasy (it’s just a fantasy) |
Gmaj7 |
It’s not the real thing (it’s not the real thing) |
Dsus4 |
Originally around G#, I play in G capo 1
G | D/F# | F | C/E | C/D | G |
x2 |
G | C | |
Well it’s a | rainy night in | Paris |
Am | D | |
And I’m | sitting by the | Seine |
Vox stay up on the 5
G | C | |
It’s a | pleasure to be | soaking |
C/B | Am | D |
In the E | uropean | rain |
Em | D | C | |
Now my | belly’s full of f | ancy food and w | ine |
G | C | |
But in the m | orning there’ll be h | ell to pay |
D | G |
Somewhere along the lin | e |
G/B | C | |
Oh, but in the m | orning there’ll be | hell to pay |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | D/F# | F | C/E | C/D | G |
G | C |
Sweet Virginia c | igarette |
Am | D |
Burning in my ha | nd |
G | C | C/B | |
Well you | used to be a | friend of | mine |
Am | D | |
But n | ow I unders | tand |
Em | D | C | |
You’ve been e | ating up in | side me for some | time, oh |
G | C | |
And | I know you’re gonn | a get me |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G/B | C | |
Well | I know you’re gonn | a get me |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | D/F# | F | C/E |
D | D/Eb |
Somewhere along the line |
Em | Em/D | C | |
Well I k | now it’s just a ma | tter of | time |
G/B | C | |
When the | fun falls through and the | rent comes due |
Am | F | D |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | C | |
Well, you | know I love my | woman |
Am | D | |
And I w | ould not let her d | own |
G | C | |
And I | did my share of | lovin’ |
C/B | Am | D |
When I u | sed to get | around |
Em | D | C | |
Now I’m | satisfied and | she is lookin’ fi | ne, oh |
G/B | C | |
But you | pay for your satis | faction |
D | G |
Somewhere along the lin | e |
G/B | C | |
Well you p | ay for your sa | tisfaction |
D | G |
Somewhere along the li | ne |
Solo
G | G/B | C | D |
x2 |
G | D/F# | F | C/E | C/D | G |
G | C | |
Hey, it’s | good to be a | young man |
Am | D | |
And to | live the way you | please |
G | C | |
Yes, a | young man is the | king |
C/B | Am | D | |
Of | every | kingdom that he | sees |
Em | D | C | |
But there’s an | old and feeble | man not far | behind, oh |
G | C | |
And it | surely will catch | up to him |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | C | |
Well, you | know it will catch | up to him |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | C | |
Well, and it | surely will catch | up to him |
D | G |
Somewhere along the | line |
G | D/F# | F | C/E | C/D | G |
C |
C | Em |
What’s the matter with the cl | othes I’m wearing? |
Bb | F | |
Can’t you t | ell that your tie’s too w | ide? |
C | Em |
Maybe I should buy some o | ld tab collars |
Bb | F | |
Welcome | back to the age of j | ive |
Em | Am |
Where have you been hidin’ o | ut lately, honey? |
Em | D | G | |
You | can’t dress trashy till you | spend a lot of | money |
C | Em | Bb |
Everybody’s | talking ‘bout the | new sound |
F | Am | G | C |
Funny, but it’s | still rock and | roll to | me |
C | Em |
What’s the matter with the | car I’m driving? |
Bb | F | |
Can’t you | tell it’s out of st | yle? |
C | Em |
Should I get a set of | white wall tires? |
Bb | F | |
Are you | gonna cruise the miracle mi | le? |
Em | Am |
Nowadays you can’t be t | oo sentimental |
Em | D | G | |
Your | best bet’s a true baby, | blue Conti | nental |
C | Em | Bb | F |
Hot funk, | cool punk | even if it’s | old junk |
Am | G | C | |
It’s | still rock and r | oll to m | e |
Bridge
G | F | |
O | h it doesn’t matter what they sa | y in the papers |
E | Am | |
‘Cause it’s a | lways been the same old sc | ene |
G | F | |
There’s a | new band in town but you ca | n’t get the sound |
E | Ab | |
From a | story in a ma | gazine |
Eb | F | G |
Aimed at your average | teen |
C | Em |
How about a pair of | pink sidewinders |
Bb | F | |
And a | bright orange pair of pant | s? |
C | Em |
Well, you could really be a | Beau Brummel baby |
Bb | F | |
If you j | ust give it half a cha | nce |
Em | Am |
Don’t waste your money on a n | ew set of speakers |
Em | D | G | |
You | get more mileage from a ch | eap pair of sn | eakers |
C | Em | Bb | F |
Next phase, | new wave, | dance craze, | anyways |
Am | G | C | |
It’s | still rock and | roll to me |
Solo if appropriate
G | F | E | Am | |||
G | F | E7 | Ab | Eb | F | G |
C | Em |
What’s the matter with th | e crowd I’m seeing? |
Bb | F | |
Don’t you | know that they’re out of touc | h? |
C | Em |
Should I try to be a s | traight A student? |
Bb | F | |
If you | are, then you think too much |
Em | Am |
Don’t you know about the n | ew fashion, honey? |
Em | D | G |
All you need are looks and a w | hole lotta | money |
C | Em | Bb | F | |
It’s the n | ext phase, n | ew wave, d | ance craze, | anyways |
Am | G | C | |
It’s | still rock and | roll to me |
Hard stops on each chord
C | Em | Bb |
Everybody’s | talking about the n | ew sound |
F | G | C9 |
Funny, but it’s s | till rock and roll to me |
D | D/F# | G | D/F# | |
He a | lways found it h | ard to t | ake her |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | G/D |
She wouldn’t | listen to ad | vice |
D | D9 | G | D/F# |
And though he | never tried to | make her |
Em7 | G | G/B |
She often thought it would be | nice |
A | A/C# | D/F# | D |
Oh, and now she’s h | eadin’ out to Calif | ornia |
A | |
It’s been a | long time comin’ but she’s |
A/C# | D/F# | D | |
F | eeling like a woman | tonight |
A | |
And she | left a little letter said |
A/C# | D/F# | |
She’s g | onna make a stop in Ne | vada |
G | D/F# | Em7 | A |
Good | bye, | good | bye |
Bm7 | A/C# |
D | D/F# | G | D/F# |
She tried for y | ears to be a | good wife |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | G/D |
It never | quite got off the | ground |
D | D9 | G | D/F# |
And all those | stories of the | good life |
Em7 | G | G/B |
Convinced her not to hang | around |
A | A/C# | D/F# | D |
Oh, and now she’s h | eadin’ out to Calif | ornia |
A | |
And she | doesn’t know what’s comin’ but |
A/C# | D/F# | D | |
She’s s | ure of what she’s leaving be | hind |
A | |
And she | left a little letter said |
A/C# | D/F# | |
She’s g | onna make a stop in Ne | vada |
G | D/F# | Em7 | A |
Good | bye, | good | bye |
Bm7 | A/C# |
Interlude over verse chords
D | D/F# | G | Em7 | A7sus4 | D | C | A | D |
D | D/F# | G | D/F# |
And though she f | inds it hard to | leave him |
Em7 | A7sus4 | D | G/D |
She knows it | would be worse to | stay |
D | D9 | G | D/F# |
He wouldn’t | understand the | reasons |
Em7 | G | G/B |
That make a woman run aw | ay |
A | A/C# | D/F# | D |
Oh, and now she’s h | eadin’ out to Calif | ornia |
A | |
With some | money in her pocket she’s a |
A/C# | D/F# | D | |
R | ocket on the fourth of Ju | ly |
A | |
And she | left a little letter said |
A/C# | D/F# | D | |
She’s g | onna make a stop in Ne | vada |
This A is the A that starts the next line...
G | D/F# | Em7 | A |
Good | bye, | good | bye |
A | A/C# | D/F# | D |
Oh, and now she’s h | eadin’ out to Calif | ornia |
A | |
With some | money in her pocket she’s a |
A/C# | D/F# | D | |
R | ocket on the fourth of Ju | ly |
A | |
And she | left a little letter said |
A/C# | D/F# | |
She’s g | onna make a stop in Ne | vada |
G | D/F# | Em7 | A |
Good | bye, | good | bye |
Bm7 | A/C# | D | G | Em7 | A | D |
This is based on the Peter, Paul, and Mary version, which is in E. Billy Joel’s
is in F.
I play in D
D | D | D | G |
x4 |
D | G | D/F# | |
They say that | these are not the | best of | times |
G | D/F# | Em7 | D/F# | A | |
But t | hey’re the | only | times I’ve ever | known |
D | G | D/F# | G | D/F# | |
And I be | lieve there is a | time for | medit | ation |
Em7 | A | E | A | |
In cat | hedrals of our | own | → |
F#/A# | Bm | Bm/A |
Now I have | seen that sad | surrender |
G | G | D/F# | |
In my | lover’s eyes |
E | E/G# | A | |
And | I can only | stand apart and | sympathize |
D | Em7 | G | |
For we are | always what our | situations | hand us |
A | G | C | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia | → |
A | D | C | G | A |
Sadness or eu | phoria | → |
D | G | D/F# | |
And so we’ll | argue and we’ll co | mpromi | se |
G | D/F# | Em7 | D | A | |
And r | eal | ize that n | othing’s really | changed |
D | G | D/F# | |
For all our m | utual ex | perienc | e |
G | D/F# | Em7 | A | E | A | |
Our | separ | ate conc | lusions are the | same | → |
F#/A# | Bm | Bm/A |
Now we are | forced to recog | nize our |
G | G | D/F# | |
Inhu | manity |
E | E/G# | A | |
Our | reason coex | ists with our in | sanity |
D | Em7 | G | |
And so we c | hoose between re | ality and m | adness |
A | G | C | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia | → |
If going into a solo here, the F# comes right after the D
A | D |
Sadness or eu | phoria |
Instrumental if appropriate on chorus chords, with F# leading in
F# | Bm | Bm/A | G | D/F# |
→ |
E | E/G# | A | A |
D | Em7 | G | A |
G | C | G | A |
→ |
PPM do a full verse here on “la”
F#/A# | Bm | Bm/A | G | G | D/F# |
How thought | lessly we dissi | pate our ener | gies |
E | E/G# | A | |
Perh | aps we don’ | t fulfill each other’s | fantasies |
D | Em7 | G | |
So we | stand upon the | ledges of our liv | es |
A | G | C | G | |
With our resp | ective simi | larities | → |
A | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia |
Hanging end on G, I usually stop here
PPM do *another* full verse here on “la”
This is based on the Billy Joel version, which is in F.
I play in D
As much walking between chords as you can fit in
D | D/F# | Em7 | G |
A7 | A7 | G | G |
D | D/F# | |
They say that | these are not the | best of times |
Em7 | G | D | D/F# | Em7 | G | |
But t | hey’re the only | times I’ve ever | known |
D | D/F# | Em7 | |
And I be | lieve that there’s a | time for medit | ation |
G | A7 | E | A | |
In cat | hedrals of our | own | → |
F#/A# | Bm | Bm/A | |
N | ow I have | seen that sad sur | render |
G | G | D/F# | |
In my | lover’s eyes |
E7 | A7 | |
And | I can only stand apart and | sympathize |
G | D/F# | Em7 | |
For we are | always what our | situations | hand us |
A7 | G | C | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia | → |
D | D/F# | Em7 | G |
A7 | A7 | G | G |
D | D/F# | |
And so we’ll | argue and we’ll co | mpromise |
Em7 | G | D | D/F# | Em7 | G | |
And r | ealize that n | othing’s really | changed |
D | D/F# | |
For all our m | utual ex | perience |
Em7 | G | A7 | E | A | |
Our | separate conc | lusions are the | same | → |
F#/A# | Bm | Bm/A | |
N | ow we are | forced to recog | nize our |
G | G | D/F# | |
Inhu | manity |
E7 | A7 | |
Our | reason coexists with our in | sanity |
G | D/F# | Em7 | |
And though we c | hoose between re | ality and m | adness |
A7 | G | C | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia | → |
Instrumental if appropriate
D | D/F# | Em7 | G | |
A7 | A7 | G | G | |
D | D/F# | Em7 | G | |
A7 | A7 | E | A | F#/A# |
→ |
Bm | Bm/A | G | G | D/F# | |
How t | houghtlessly we di | ssipate our e | nergies |
E7 | A7 | |
Perh | aps we don’t fulfill each other’s | fantasies |
G | D/F# | Em7 | |
And as we | stand upon the | ledges of our liv | es |
A7 | G | C | G | |
With our resp | ective simi | larities | → |
A7 | G | C | G | |
It’s either | sadness or eup | horia | → |
A7 | G |
Sadness or euph | oria |
Originally in Bb, I play in E capo 2
E | E | D | A |
x2 |
E | D | A | |
L | isten boy, I don’t want to see you let a g | ood thing slip a | way |
E | D | A | |
You know I d | on’t like watching anybody make the sa | me mistakes I m | ade |
If you’re playing in E, play the G in open voicing here
G#m | G | F#m | |
She’s a | real nice girl and she’s | always there for | you |
Am | E/G# | F#m | B | |
But a n | ice girl wouldn’t | tell you what you should | do |
E | D | A | |
Oh, l | isten boy, I’m sure that you think you got it a | ll under cont | rol |
E | D | A | |
You don’t w | ant somebody telling you the way to st | ay in someone’s s | oul |
G#m | G | F#m | |
You’re a | big boy now and you’ll n | ever let her | go |
Am | E/G# | F#m | E | F# | |
But t | hat’s just the kind of | thing she ought to k | now |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it, tell her | everything you feel |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 |
Give her every | reason to ac | cept that you’re for | real |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it, tell her | all your crazy dreams |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 | F#7 |
Let her know you | need her, let her | know how much she | means |
E | E | D | A |
Oooh x2 |
E | D | A | |
L | isten, boy, it’s not automatically a ce | rtain guarant | ee |
E | D | A | |
To ins | ure yourself, you’ve got to provide communic | ation constant | ly |
G#m | G | F#m | |
When you | love someone you’re | always insec | ure |
Am | E/G# | F#m | E | F# | |
And there’s | only one good | way to reass | ure |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it, let her | know how much you care |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 |
When she can’t be | with you, tell her | you wish you were | there |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it every | day before you leave |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 | F#7 |
Pay her some at | tention, give her | something to be | lieve |
Bridge
D | Bm | C |
‘Cause now and t | hen she’ll get to w | orrying |
D | Em | A | Bm | A/C# | |
Ju | st bec | ause you haven’t s | poken for so l | ong |
D | Bm | C | |
And th | ough you | may not have done | anything |
D | Em | A | F#/A# | B | |
W | ill that | be a consol | ation when she’s | gone? |
E | D | A | |
L | isten boy, it’s good information from a m | an who’s made mist | akes |
E | D | A | |
Just a wo | rd or two that she gets from you could be the d | ifference that it m | akes |
G#m | G | F#m | |
She’s a | trusting soul, she’s p | ut her trust in | you |
Am | E/G# | F#m | E | F# | |
But a | girl like that won’t | tell you what you should | do |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it, tell her | everything you feel |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 |
Give her every | reason to ac | cept that you’re for | real |
B | D#m | |
T | ell her about it, tell her | all your crazy dreams |
G#m | G#m7 | C#m7 | F#7sus4 | F#7 |
Let her know you | need her, let her | know how much she | means |
Outro
E | D | A | |
T | ell her about it, | tell her how you f | eel right now |
E | D | A | |
T | ell her about it, the | girl don’t want to | wait too long |
E | D | A | |
You got to te | ll her about it, | tell her now and you | won’t go wrong |
E | D | A | |
You got to te | ll her about it, be | fore it gets too | late you’ve got to... |
On guitar, I play the slow part at tempo and skip the
at-tempo part of the intro.
Slow, swung, or play at tempo
G | ||||||
G | Em | F | ||||
G | Em | F | C | D | ||
G | Em | F | C | G/B | Am | D |
At tempo, straight, skip on guitar
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
x2 |
G | Em | F | |
From a | town known a | s Wheeling, West Vi | rginia |
G | Em | F | C | D | |
Rode | a boy with a | six-gun in his | hand |
G | Em | F | C | |
And his | daring life of c | rime made him a le | gend in his t | ime |
G/B | Am7 | D7sus | |
East | and | west of the | Rio Grande |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
x2 |
G | Em | F | |
Well, he sta | rted with a | bank in Color | ado |
G | Em | F | C | D | |
In the po | cket of his v | est a Colt he h | id |
G | Em | |
And his | age and his s | ize |
F | C | G/B | |
Took the t | eller by surpr | ise | and |
Am7 | D7sus |
The word spread | of Billy the Kid |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
C | D | Em | Bm | |
Well he | never traveled h | eavy, yes he | always rode al | one |
C | C/D | F/G | |
And he so | on put many o | lder guns to sha | me |
C | D | Em | Bm | |
And he ne | ver had a sw | eetheart, and he n | ever had a h | ome |
C | Dsus4 | D | |
But the | cowboy and the rancher knew his name |
G | Em | F | |
Well, he r | obbed his way from | Utah to Oklah | oma |
G | Em | F | C | D | |
And the l | aw just could not s | eem to track him | down |
G | Em | F | C | G/B | |
And it se | rved his legend | well, for the f | olks they’d love to te | ll | ’bout |
Am7 | D7sus |
When Billy the Kid | came to town |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
x2 |
Interlude if appropriate
C | C/E | F | C | C | G |
F | G | ||||
C | C/E | F | C | C | G |
F | C | ||||
Bb/C | |
F | C |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
x2 |
G | Em | F | |
Well o | ne cold day a p | osse captured B | illy |
G | Em | F | C | D | |
And the j | udge said string him | up for what he | did |
G | Em | F | C | G/B | |
And the c | owboys and their | kin, like the s | ea came pourin’ | in to | to watch |
Am7 | D7sus |
The hangin’ | of Billy the Kid |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
C | D | Em | Bm | |
Well he n | ever traveled he | avy, yes he | always rode al | one |
C | C/D | F/G | |
And he so | on put many | older guns to sh | ame |
C | D | Em | Bm | |
And he n | ever had a sw | eetheart, but he f | inally found a h | ome |
C | Dsus4 | D | |
Underne | ath the Boot Hill grave that bears his na | me |
G | Em | F | |
From a t | own known as | Oyster Bay, Long I | sland |
G | Em | F | C | D | |
Rode a b | oy with a | six-pack in his h | and |
G | Em | F | C | |
And his d | aring life of c | rime made him a l | egend in his t | ime |
G/B | Am7 | D7sus |
East and w | est of the | Rio Grande |
F/G | C/G | C/G | F/G | G |
x2 |
Interlude if appropriate
C | C/E | F | C | C | G |
F | G | ||||
C | C/E | F | C | C | G |
F | C | ||||
Bb/C | |
F | C |
Originally in Am, I play in Em.
Sometimes I capo 2, the highest note is Bb in Am.
Mostly muted, be judicioius with strumming.
Em |
Vox start on 1 2 3 of the major key
G | D | Em | |
Well I’m | on the Downe | aster Al | exa |
G | D | C | |
And I’m | cruising through | Block Island | Sound |
C | G | Am | |
I have | charted a | course to the | Vineyard |
Em | D | C | |
But to | night I am | Nantucket | bound |
C | D | G | C |
We took on | diesel back in | Montauk | yesterday |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
And left this | morning from the | bell in Gardiner’s | Bay |
C | D | G | C |
Like all the | locals here I’ve | had to sell my | home |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
Too proud to | leave I worked my | fingers to the | bone |
G | D | Em | |
So I could | own my Downe | aster Ale | xa |
G | D | C | |
And I | go where the | ocean is | deep |
C | G | Am | |
There are | giants out | there in the | canyons |
G | D | C | |
And a | good captain | can’t fall | asleep |
C | D | G | C |
I’ve got | bills to pay and | children who need | clothes |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
I know there’s | fish out there | but where God only | knows |
C | D | G | C |
They say these | waters aren’t | what they used to | be |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
But I’ve got | people back on | land who count on | me |
G | D | Em | |
So if you | see my Downe | aster Al | exa |
G | D | C | |
And if you | work with the | rod and the | reel |
C | G | Am | |
Tell my | wife I am | trolling | Atlantis |
G | D | C | |
And I | still have my | hands on the | wheel |
Interlude, lots of ayyy-o and accordion noises
Em |
G | D | Em | |
Now I | drive my Downe | aster Al | exa |
G | D | C | |
More and | more miles from | shore every | year |
C | G | Am | |
Since they | tell me I | can’t sell no | stripers |
G | D | C | |
And there’s | no luck in | swordfishing | here |
C | D | G | C |
I was a | bayman like my | father was | before |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
Can’t make a | living as a | bayman | anymore |
C | D | G | C |
There ain’t much | future for a | man who works the | sea |
C | D | Em | D/F# |
But there ain’t no | island left for | islanders like | me |
G | D/F# | Em | |
Ay-ay | yo, | oh |
G |
G | C | G/B | C | |
I | am the entertainer and I | know just where | I | stand |
C | G/B | C | D | |
A | nother serenade | r and another | long-haired b | and |
G | C | |
To | day I am your champion, I | may have won your hearts |
C | D | |
But I | know the game, you’ll fo | rget my name |
Am7 | Cmaj7 | |
And I | won’t be here in | another year |
D | G | |
If I | don’t stay on the ch | arts |
G |
G | C/E | G/D | C | |
I | am the entertainer and I’ve | had to pay | my | price |
C | G/B | G/B | C | D | |
The | things I did not | know at first I l | earned by | doin’ | twice |
G | |
Ah, but | still they come to haunt me |
C/E | C | |
S | till they want their | say |
C | D | |
So I’ve l | earned to dance with a h | and in my pants |
Am7 | Cmaj7 | |
Let ‘em | rub my neck and I | write ‘em a check |
D | G | |
And they | go their merry wa | y |
G |
G | C/E | G/D | C | |
I | am the entertainer, | been all around | the | world |
C | G/B | G/B | C | D | |
I’ve | played all kinds of palace | s and l | aid all | kinds of | girls |
G | C/E | C | |
I | can’t remember faces, | I don’t remember | names |
C | D | |
Ah, but | what the hell, you know it’s | just as well |
Am7 | Cmaj7 | |
‘Cause a | fter a while and a t | housand miles |
D | G |
It all becomes the s | ame |
G |
G | C/E | G/D | C | |
I | am the entertainer, I | bring to you | my | songs |
C | G/B | G/B | C | D | |
I’d | like to spend a | day or two, but I | can’t | stay that | long |
G | C/E | C | |
No, I’ve | got to meet expenses, I | got to stay in | line |
C | D | |
Gotta | get those fees to the | agencies |
Am7 | Cmaj7 | |
And I’d | love to stay but there’s | bills to pay |
D | G | |
So I | just don’t have the ti | me |
G |
G | C/E | G/D | C | |
I | am the entertainer, I | come to do | my | show |
C | G/B | G/B | C | D | |
You’ve | heard my latest recor | d, it’s b | een on the | radi | o |
G | |
Ah, it | took me years to write it, they were the |
C/E | C |
Best years of my | life |
Cmaj7 | D | |
It was a b | eautiful song, but it | ran too long |
Am7 | C | |
If you’re | gonna have a hit, you | gotta make it fit |
D | G | |
So they | cut it down to 3:0 | 5 |
G |
G | C/E | G/D | C |
I am the entertainer, the | idol | of my | age |
C | G/B | G/B | C | D | |
I | make all kinds of mone | y when I | go | on the | stage |
G | |
Ah, you’ve | seen me in the papers |
C/E | C | |
I’ve | been in the ma | gazines |
C | D | |
But if | I go cold I | won’t get sold |
Am7 | C | |
I’ll get | put in the back in the | discount rack |
D | G | |
Like a | nother can of be | ans |
G |
Hanging stops
G | C/E | G/D | C | |
I | am the entertainer and I | know just where | I | stand |
C | G/B | C | D | |
A | nother serenader and | another | long-haired b | and |
G | C/E | C | |
To | day I am your champion, I | may have won your | hearts |
C | D | |
But I | know the game, you’ll fo | rget my name |
Am7 | Cmaj7 | |
And I | won’t be here in | another year |
D | G | |
If I | don’t stay on the ch | arts |
G |
Originally in Eb, I play in A capo 3 (so in C)
Highest note is only the 4, but it sounds terrible to miss
those 4’s on "I’m so in*spired* by you" and "that hasn’t
hap*pened*".
A | E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh, | oh |
E | A |
For the longest | time |
E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh |
E |
For the longest time |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | D | A |
If | you | said | good | bye to me ton | ight |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | B | E |
There | would | still | be | music left to | write |
C# | F#m |
What else could | I do |
E7 | A | A7 |
I’m so insp | ired | by you |
D | Bm | E | A |
That hasn’t | happened for the | longest | time |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | D | A |
Once | I | thought | my | innocence was | gone |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | B | E |
Now | I k | now | that | happiness goes | on |
C# | F#m |
That’s where you | found me |
E7 | A | A7 |
When you put your | arms a | round me |
D | Bm | E | A |
I haven’t | been there for the | longest ti | me |
A | E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh, | oh |
E | A |
For the longest | time |
E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh |
E |
For the longest time |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | D | A |
I’m | that | voice | you’re | hearing in the | hall |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | B | E |
And | the | great | est | miracle of | all |
C# | F#m |
Is how I | need you |
E7 | A | A7 |
And how you n | eeded | me too |
D | Bm | E | A |
That has | n’t happened for the | longest | time |
E | E7 | F#m |
Maybe | this won’t | last very long |
G#7 | |
But | you feel so right |
A | |
And | I could be wrong |
C#m | F#m |
Maybe I’ve been | hoping too hard |
B7 | |
But | I’ve gone this far |
E | E7 | |
And it’s | more than I | hoped for |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | D | A |
Who | knows | how | much | further we’ll go | on |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | B | E |
May | be I’ | ll | be s | orry when you’re | gone |
C# | F#m |
I’ll take my | chances |
E7 | A | A7 |
I forgot how n | ice r | omance is |
D | Bm | E | A |
I haven’t | been there for the | longest | time |
E | E7 | F#m |
I had | second | thoughts at the start |
G#7 | |
I s | aid to myself |
A | |
Hold | on to your heart |
C#m | F#m |
Now I know the | woman that you are |
B7 | |
You’re | wonderful so far |
E | E7 | |
And it’s | more than I | hoped for |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | D | A |
I | don’t c | are | what | consequence it b | rings |
A | A/G# | A/F# | Amaj7/E | B | E |
I | have b | een | a | fool for lesser t | hings |
C# | F#m |
I want you | so bad |
E7 | A | A7 |
I think you | ought to | know that |
D | Bm | E | A |
I intend to | hold you for the | longest | time |
A | E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh, | oh |
E | A |
For the longest | time |
E | A | D |
Oh, | oh, | oh |
E |
For the longest time |
On guitar, play as barre and ignore most extensions.
Gmaj7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 | D6 |
x 4, with oooh, ahh
G |
In the middle of (I go walking in) |
G9 | |
In the middle of (I go | walking in) |
C | Cmaj7 |
In the middle of (I go | walking in) |
D |
In the middle of (I go walking in) |
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
I go walking in my sleep
G7 | C | |
From the | mountains of | faith |
Cmaj7 | D | |
To the | river so | deep |
G | |
I must be looking for | something |
Something sacred I lost
G7 | C | |
But the | river is | wide |
Cmaj7 | D | |
And it’s | too hard to | cross |
Em | Gmaj7 |
And even though I know the | river is wide |
Cmaj7 | G | |
I walk | down every evening and | stand on the shore |
Cmaj7 | Gmaj7 |
I try to cross to the | opposite side |
A7 | D | |
So I can | finally find out what I’ve been | looking for |
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
I go walking in my sleep
G7 | C | |
Through the | valley of | fear |
Cmaj7 | D | |
To a | river so | deep |
G | |
I’ve been searching for | something |
Taken out of my soul
G7 | C | |
Something | I could never | lose |
Cmaj7 | D | |
Something | somebody | stole |
Em | Gmaj7 | |
I | don’t know why I go | walking at night |
Cmaj7 | G | |
But now I’m | tired and I don’t want to | walk anymore |
Cmaj7 | Gmaj7 | |
I | hope it doesn’t take the | rest of my life |
A7 | D | |
Until I | find what it is I’ve been | looking for |
Hang for 1 measure
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
I go walking in my sleep
G7 | C | |
Through the | jungle of | doubt |
Cmaj7 | D | |
To the | river so | deep |
G | |
I know I’m | searching for something |
Something so undefined
G7 | C | |
That it can | only be | seen |
Cmaj7 | D | |
By the | eyes of the | blind |
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
Note the lyrics are reversed wrt the intro
G |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the |
G7 | |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
C | Cmaj7 |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
D |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the |
G |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the |
G7 | |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
C | Cmaj7 |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
D |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the |
Em | Gmaj7 |
I’m not sure about a | life after this |
Cmaj7 | G | |
God | knows I’ve never been a | spiritual man |
Cmaj7 | Gmaj7 |
Baptized by the | fire |
A | D | |
I wade into the | river that is running through the | promised land |
Hang for 1 meaure and 2 extra beats
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
I go walking in my sleep
G7 | C | |
Through the | desert of | truth |
Cmaj7 | D | |
To the | river so | deep |
G | |
We all end in the | ocean |
We all start in the streams
G7 | C | |
We’re all | carried a | long |
Cmaj7 | D | |
By the | river of | dreams |
G | |
In the middle of the | night |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the
G7 | |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
C | Cmaj7 |
I go walking in the, in the | middle of the |
D |
I go walking in the, in the middle of the |
Intro, skip on guitar
Em | Em/D | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 | B | B | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
E | E/F# | E/G# | Am | Am/G | D/F# | C/E | |
→ |
D | B/D# |
Whistle
Em | Em/D | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 | B | B | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
E | E/F# | E/G# | Am | Am/G | D/F# | C/E | |
→ |
B/D# | A/C# | B | B/A | Em |
Em | C7 | Em | C7 |
Em | Am | Em | |
Well we | all have a face that we | hide away for | ever |
Am | C | D | B7 | |
And we | take them out and | show ourselves when | everyone has gone |
Em | Am | Em | |
Some are | satin some are steel some are | silk and some are | leather |
Am | D | Bm | Em | |
They’re the | faces of the | stranger but we | love to try them | on |
Em | C7 | Em | C7 |
Em | Am | Em | |
Well we | all fall in love but we | disregard the | danger |
Am | C | D | B7 | |
Though we | share so many | secrets there are | some we never tell |
Em | Am | Em | |
Why were | you so surprised that you | never saw the | stranger? |
Am | D | Bm | Em | |
Did you | ever let your | lover see the | stranger in your | self? |
Vox on the 5, but then I go *down* to avoid the falsetto bit
On guitar that iM7 just wants to be im.
Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# |
Don’t be af | raid to try a | gain |
D7 | Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# | D7 |
Everyone goes | south e | very now and | then, | oh oh |
Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# |
You’ve done it, | why can’t someone | else? |
D7 | Bm7 | Bbaug | A6 | B7 |
You should know by | now | you’ve been there your | self |
Em | Am | Em | |
Once I | used to believe I was | such a great ro | mancer |
Am | C | D | B7 | |
Then I | came home to a | woman that I | could not recognize |
Em | Am | Em | |
When I | pressed her for a reason she re | fused to even | answer |
Am | D | Bm | Em | |
It was | then I felt the | stranger kick me | right between the | eyes |
Em | C7 | Em | C7 |
Em | Am | Em | |
Well we | all fall in love but we | disregard the | danger |
Am | C | D | B7 | |
Though we | share so many | secrets there are | some we never tell |
Em | Am | Em | |
Why were | you so surprised that you | never saw the | stranger |
Am | D | Bm | Em | |
Did you | ever let your | lover see the | stranger in your | self? |
Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# |
Don’t be af | raid to try a | gain |
D7 | Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# | D7 |
Everyone goes | south e | very now and | then, | oh oh |
Gmaj7 | GmM7 | D/F# |
You’ve done it, | why can’t someone | else? |
D7 | Bm7 | Bbaug | A6 | B7 |
You should know by | now | you’ve been there your | self |
Em | Am | Em | |
You may | never understand how the | stranger is ins | pired |
Am | C | D | B7 | |
But he | isn’t always | evil and he | is not always wrong |
Em | Am | Em | |
Though you | drown in good intentions you will | never quench the | fire |
Am | D | Bm | Em | |
You’ll give | in to your de | sire when the | stranger comes a | long |
Em | C7 | Em | C7 |
Starts drums, then bass on D
C/D | D |
x2 |
D |
Hey lord, take a look all around |
G | C | D | |
To | night to find where my | baby’s gonna | be |
G | |
Hey lord, would ya look out for her to | night |
C | C/B | A | |
‘Cause she is | far ac | ross the | sea |
D | G | C |
Hey lord, would ya | look out for her to | night |
F | Bb | |
And make sure that | she’s gonna be al | right |
A | D | |
And things are gonna | be alright with | me |
D | G | D | A |
x2 |
D | G |
Hey lord, would ya look out for her to | night |
C | D | G | D | A | |
And make sure that | all her dreams are | sweet |
D | G |
Said now, would ya guide her along the | roads |
C | C/B | A | |
And make them | softer | for her | feet |
A | D | A | G | A |
→ |
D | G9 | C |
Hey lord, would ya | look out for her to | night |
F | Bb | |
And make sure that | she’s gonna be al | right |
A | D | |
Until she’s | home and here with | me |
D | G | D | A |
x2 |
D | G |
Hey, lord would ya look out for her to | night |
C | D | G | D | A | |
If she is | sleepin’ under the | sky |
D | G |
Said now, make sure the ground she’s | sleepin’ on |
C | C/B | A | |
Is | always | warm and | dry |
A | D | A | G | A |
→ |
D | G | C |
Mmmm, don’tcha | give her too much | rain |
F | Bb | |
Try to | keep her away from | pain |
A | D | |
Because my | baby hates to c | ry |
D | G | D | A |
x2 |
D | G |
Hey lord, would ya look out for her to | night |
C | D | G | D | A | |
‘Cause it gets | rough along the | way |
D | G |
Said now, this song seems strange it’s | just because |
C | C/B | A | |
I | don’t know | how to | pray |
A | D | A | G | A |
→ |
D | G9 | C |
Mmmm, won’tcha | give her peace of | mind |
F | Bb | |
And if you | ever find the | time |
A | D | |
Won’tcha tell her I | miss her every | day |
D | G | D | A |
x2 |
Solo on verse chords if appropriate, i.e., if awesome
In the original it’s a piano solo, then a violin
solo, each a full verse.
Hanging stops until the DGDA at the end of each line
D |
Hey lord, take a look all around |
G | C | D | G | D | A | |
To | night to find where my | baby’s gonna | be |
D | G |
Hey lord, would ya look out for her to | night |
C | C/B | A | |
‘Cause she is | far ac | ross the | sea |
A | D | A | G | A |
→ |
D | G9 | C |
Hey lord, would ya | look out for her to | night |
F | Bb | |
And make sure that | she’s gonna be al | right |
A | D | |
Until she’s | home and here with | me |
D | G | D | A |
D | |||
With | me |
D | G | D | A |
x2 |
Hanging stop on D
D |
Weird boinky noise and banjos
Originally in E, I play in A capo 1.
Definitely practice the bridge oh-oh’s before playing.
Vox start on the root
A | Bm |
Oh oh oh | oh oh oh oh |
C#m | D | E |
Oh oh oh | oh oh | oh oh |
A |
Uptown girl |
Bm | C#m |
She’s been living in her | uptown world |
D | E | A |
I bet she | never had a | back street guy |
Bm | C#m |
I bet her mama never | told her why |
D | E |
I’m gonna | try for an |
A |
Uptown girl |
Bm | C#m |
She’s been living in her | white bread world |
D | E | A |
As long as | anyone with | hot blood can |
Bm | C#m |
And now she’s looking for a | downtown man |
D | E |
That’s what I | am |
Vox on 1 3 6 of the first chord on “and when she”
F | Dm | Gm | C7 |
And when she | knows what she | wants from her | time |
F | Dm | Gm/D# | C7 |
And when she | wakes up and | makes up her | mind |
D | Bm |
She’ll see I’m | not so tough |
Em | E |
Just because | I’m in love with an |
A |
Uptown girl |
Bm | C#m |
You know I’ve seen her in her | uptown world |
D | E | A |
She’s getting | tired of her | high-class toys |
Bm | C#m |
And all her presents from her | uptown boys |
D | E |
She’s got a | choice |
Bridge
Starts on 1 3 5 of the first chord, get to the
1 of the second chord on its second “oh-oh”
C | D | D#dim7 | Em | D |
Ohh... | → |
C | D | D#dim7 | E |
Ohh... |
A |
Uptown girl |
Bm | C#m |
You know I can’t afford to | buy her pearls |
D | E | A |
But maybe | someday when my | ship comes in |
Bm | C#m |
She’ll understand what kind of | guy I’ve been |
D | E |
And then I’ll | win |
F | Dm | Gm | C7 |
And when she’s | walking, she’s | looking so | fine |
F | Dm | Gm/D# | C7 |
And when she’s | talking, she’ll | say that she’s | mine |
D | Bm |
She’ll say I’m | not so tough |
Em | E |
Just because | I’m in love with an |
A |
Uptown girl |
Bm | C#m |
She’s been living in her | white bread world |
D | E | A |
As long as | anyone with | hot blood can |
Bm | C#m |
And now she’s looking for a | downtown man |
D | E |
That’s what I | am |
Bridge
C | D | D#dim7 | Em | D |
Ohh... |
C | D | D#dim7 | E |
Ohh... |
(Uptown girl, repeat to fade...)
A | Bm | C#m | D | E |
I play the intro as something like:
|-G+------F7--------G-Cm-D7-G/D-| |------------------------------| E|-7----7--5-5/7\5-3-3-3--2--3---| B|-8----8--4---------3-4--1--3---| G|-8-876---5---------4-5--2--4---| D|-------------------5-------0---|
G+ | G9+/F | F#dim7 | C/G |
Am7b5/D# | D7 | G | |
Em | G |
Slow down, you c | razy child |
Vox on the 4 3 3 2 on “juveni-ile”
D | F | |
You’re s | o ambitious for a | juvenile |
C | |
But then if | you’re so smart, tell me |
G | A7 | B9 | B7 |
Why are you still so afraid? | → |
Em | G |
Where’s the fire, what’s the | hurry about? |
D | F | |
You’d better | cool it off before you | burn it out |
C | |
You’ve got | so much to do and |
G | F#m7 | B9 | B7 | |
Only | so many hours in a | day | → |
Vox *down* to the 1 6 5 of the chord on “truth is told”
C | D |
But you know that when the | truth is told |
G | D/F# | Em | Em/D | |
That you can | get what you | want or you can | just get old |
Vox on the 4 of the chord on “even”
C | F#m7 | |
You’re gonna | kick off before you | even |
B7 | Em7 | A7 | |
Get hal | fway throug | h, ooh o | oh |
D#9 | D7 | G | |
When will you realize | Vienna waits for | you? |
G |
Em | G |
Slow down, you’re | doing fine |
D | F | |
You can’t be | everything you want to be befor | e your time |
C | G | A7 | |
Although it’s | so romantic on the | borderline tonight |
B9 | B7 | |
Toni | ght |
Em | G |
Too bad but it’s the | life you lead |
D | F | |
You’re so ah | ead of yourself that you for | got what you need |
C | |
Though you can | see when you’re wrong, you know |
G | F#m7 | |
You can’ | t always see when you’re right |
B9 | B7 | |
You’re righ | t |
C | D |
You’ve got your passion, you’ve | got your pride |
G | D/F# | Em | Em/D | |
But do | n’t you know that | only fools are | satisfied? |
C | F#m7 |
Dream on, but don’t im | agine they’ll |
B7 | Em7 | A7 |
All come true | , ooh o | oh |
D#9 | D7 | G | |
When will you realize | Vienna waits for | you? |
Solo on a half-verse
C | D7 |
Slow down you | crazy child |
G | D/F# | Em | Em/D | |
And take the | phone off the | hook and disap | pear for a while |
C | F#m7 |
It’s all right, you can afford | to lose a |
B7 | Em | A7 |
Day or two | , ooh o | oh |
D#9 | D7 | G | |
When will you realize | Vienna waits for | you? |
C | D |
And you know that when the | truth is told |
G | D/F# | Em | Em/D | |
That you can | get what you | want or you can | just get old |
C | F#m7 | |
You’re gonna | kick off before you | even |
B7 | Em7 | A7 | |
Get hal | fway throug | h, ooh o | oh |
D#9 | D7 | G | E7 | |
Why don’t you realize | Vienna waits for | you? |
Em7/A | D7 | |
When will you | realize, | Vienna waits for... |
G+ | G9+/F | F#dim7 | C/G |
You |
Am7b5/D# | D7 | G |
Intro, really unclear whether that’s a Iadd9 or a V or a something-else-over-something-else.
Writing it here as a Iadd9, but play with it.
G | Gadd9 | Em7 | C |
x 2 |
G | D |
Harry Truman, Doris Day, | Red China, Johnnie Ray |
Em | C |
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, | Joe DiMaggio |
G | D |
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, | Studebaker, television |
Em | C |
North Korea, South Korea, | Marilyn Monroe |
G | D | Em | C |
G | D |
Rosenbergs, H-bomb, | Sugar Ray, Panmunjom |
Em | C |
Brando, The King and I | and The Catcher in the Rye |
G | D |
Eisenhower, vaccine, | England’s got a new queen |
Em | C |
Marciano, Liberace, | Santayana goodbye |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | C | |
It was | always burning since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
No we | didn’t light it |
C | |
But we | tried to fight it |
G | D |
Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, | Nasser and Prokofiev |
Em | C |
Rockefeller, Campanella, | Communist Bloc |
G | D |
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, | Toscanini, Dacron |
Em | C |
Dien... Bien... Phu... falls, | Rock Around the Clock |
G | D |
Einstein, James Dean, | Brooklyn’s got a winning team |
Em | C |
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, | Elvis Presley, Disneyland |
G | D |
Bardot, Budapest, | Alabama, Khrushchev |
Em | C |
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, | trouble in the Suez |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
It was | always burning |
C | |
Since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
No we | didn’t light it |
C | |
But we | tried to fight it |
Bridge
C | Am |
Little Rock, Pasternak, | Mickey Mantle, Kerouac |
Em | D |
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, | Bridge on the River Kwai |
C | Am |
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, | California baseball |
Em | D |
Stark weather, homicide, | children of thalidomide |
D |
Oh-oh, oh-oh |
G | D |
Buddy Holly, Ben Hur, | space monkey, Mafia |
Em | C |
Hula hoops, Castro, | Edsel is a no-go |
G | D |
U-2, Syngman Rhee, | payola and Kennedy |
Em | C |
Chubby Checker, Psycho, | Belgians in the Congo |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
It was | always burning |
C | |
Since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
No we | didn’t light it |
C | |
But we | tried to fight it |
G | D |
Hemingway, Eichmann, | Stranger in a Strange Land |
Em | C |
Dylan, Berlin, | Bay of Pigs invasion |
G | D |
Lawrence of Arabia, | British Beatle mania |
Em | C |
Ole Miss, John Glenn, | Liston beats Patterson |
G | D |
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, | British politician sex |
Hard stop on “what else”
Em | C |
JFK, blown away, | what else do I have to say? |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
It was | always burning |
C | |
Since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
No we | didn’t light it |
C | |
But we | tried to fight it |
G | D |
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, | Richard Nixon back again |
Em | C |
Moon shot, Woodstock, | Watergate, punk rock |
G | D |
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, | terror on the airline |
Em | C |
Ayatollah’s in Iran, | Russians in Afghanistan |
Melody stays on the same note all the way to “AIDS”
G | D |
Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, | heavy metal, suicide |
Em | C |
Foreign debts, homeless vets, | AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz |
G | D |
Hypodermics on the shores, | China’s under martial law |
Hard stop on “rock”
Em | C |
Rock and roller cola wars, | I can’t take it anymore |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
It was | always burning |
C | |
Since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
But when | we are gone |
C | G | D | Em | C | |
It will | still burn on, and | on, and | on, and | on, and | on |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
It was | always burning |
C | |
Since the | world’s been turning |
G | D |
We didn’t start the | fire |
Em | |
No we | didn’t light it |
C | |
But we | tried to fight it |
Originally in C, I play in A
Intro, with weird wah noises
B7 | B7 |
Enter normal instrumentation
A | E | G | D |
A | E |
Today I’m livin’ like a | rich man’s son |
G | D |
Tomorrow morning I could | be a bum |
A | E |
It doesn’t matter which di | rection though |
G | D |
I know a woman in New M | exico |
Bm7 | E |
Worse comes to | worst |
Bm7 | E |
I’ll get a | long |
Bm7 | E |
I don’t know | how but sometimes |
Bm7 | E |
I can be s | trong |
A | E |
And if I don’t have a c | ar I’ll hitch |
G | D |
I got a thumb and she’s a s | on of a bitch |
A | E |
I do my writing on my r | oad guitar |
G | D |
And make a living at a pi | ano bar, oh |
Bm7 | E |
Worse comes to | worst |
Bm7 | E |
I’ll get a | long |
Bm7 | E |
I don’t know | how but sometimes |
Bm7 | E |
I can be s | trong |
Bridge, half-time
Vox on the 3 of the chord on “lightning”
G | D |
Lightning and th | under |
Vox on ascending 5 1 3 on “flashed across the roads”
A | E | |
F | lashed across the roads we drove upo | n |
G | D |
Oh, but it’s clear skies we’re u | nder |
Vox on 1 3 3 of the chord on “when I am”, 1 of the chord on “song”
F#m | E | |
W | hen I am together, w | hen I sing the song |
Solo if appropriate on verse chords
Bm7 | E |
Worse comes to | worst |
Bm7 | E |
I’ll get a | long |
Bm7 | E |
I don’t know | how but sometimes |
Bm7 | E |
I can be s | trong, oh |
A | E |
Fun ain’t easy if | it ain’t free |
G | D |
Too many people got a | hold on me |
A | E |
But I know something that | they don’t know |
G | D |
I know a woman in New | Mexico |
Bm7 | E |
Worse comes to | worst |
Bm7 | E |
I’ll get a | long |
Bm7 | E |
I don’t know | how but sometimes |
Bm7 | E |
I can be s | trong |
A |
A |
Friday night I crashed your party |
Saturday I said I’m sorry
E | |
Sunday came and trashed me out a | gain |
Bm | |
I was | only having fun |
G | |
Wasn’t | hurting anyone |
E | A | |
And we | all enjoyed the weekend for a | change |
A | |
I was | stranded in the combat zone |
I walked through Bedford Sty alone
E | |
Even rode my motorcycle in the | rain |
Bm | |
And you | told me not to drive |
G | |
But I | made it home alive |
E | A | |
So you | said that only proves that I’m in | sane |
E | A | |
You may be | right I may be | crazy |
E | D | F#m | A | |
But it | just may be a | lunatic you’re | looking for |
E | A | |
Turn out the | lights don’t try to | save me |
D | E | |
You may be | wrong for all I | know |
A | |
But you may be | right |
A |
A |
Remember how I found you there |
Alone in your electric chair
E | |
I told you dirty jokes until you | smiled |
Bm | |
You were | lonely for a man |
G | |
I said | take me as I am |
E | A | |
‘Cause you | might enjoy some madness for a | while |
A | |
Now | think of all the years you tried to |
Find someone to satisfy you
E | |
I might be as crazy as you | say |
Bm | |
If I’m | crazy then it’s true |
G | |
That it’s | all because of you |
E | A | |
And you | wouldn’t want me any other | way |
E | A | |
You may be | right I may be | crazy |
E | D | F#m | A | |
But it | just may be a | lunatic you’re | looking for |
E | A | |
Turn out the | lights it’s too late to | change me |
D | E | |
You may be | wrong for all I | know |
A | |
But you may be | right |
Solo if appropriate on verse chords
E | A | |
You may be | right I may be | crazy |
E | D | F#m | A | |
Hey but it | just may be a | lunatic you’re | looking for |
E | A | |
Turn out the | lights, aww don’t try to | save me |
D | E | |
You may be | wrong for all I | know |
A | |
You may be | right |
A |
You may be wrong but you may be right |
Dylan in Db, Adele in Bb, Garth Brooks in D
I play in D on piano, in C capo 2 on guitar
Starts with a quick V→I, or do an instrumental verse
C | G/B |
When the rain is blowing | in your face |
Gm/Bb | F/A |
And the whole world is | on your case |
Fm/Ab | C/G |
I could offer you a | warm embrace |
D9/F# | F/G | C |
To make you | feel my | love |
C | G/B |
When evening shadows and the | stars appear |
Gm/Bb | F/A |
And there is no one there to | dry your tears |
Fm/Ab | C/G |
I could hold you for a | million years |
D9/F# | F/G | C |
To make you | feel my | love |
F | C |
I know you haven’t made your | mind up yet |
C+ | F | C |
But I would | never do you | wrong |
F | C |
I’ve known it from the moment | that we met |
Dm7 | G | |
N | o doubt in my mind where you | belong |
C | G/B |
I’d go hungry, I’d go | black and blue |
Gm/Bb | F/A |
I’d go crawling down the | avenue |
Fm/Ab | C/G |
Oh there’s nothing that I | wouldn’t do |
D9/F# | F/G | C |
To make you | feel my | love |
Solo
C | G/B | Gm/Bb | F/A | |
Fm/Ab | C/G | D9/F# | F/G | C |
F | C |
The storms are raging on the | rolling sea |
E | F | C |
And on the | highway of | regret |
F | C |
The winds of change are blowing | wild and free |
Dm7 | G | |
Y | ou ain’t seen nothing like me | yet |
C | G/B |
I could make you happy, make your | dreams come true |
Gm/Bb | F/A |
There is nothing that I wou | ldn’t do |
Fm/Ab | C/G |
Go to the ends of the | Earth for you |
D9/F# | F/G | C |
To make you | feel my | love |
D9/F# | F/G | C |
To make you | feel my | love |
Originally in G, I play in D capo 1 or 2
Cadd9 |
D | Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a h | ard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
And I’ve been w | orking like a d | og |
Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a hard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
I should be sl | eeping like a l | og |
G | |
But when I g | et home to you |
A | |
I find the th | ings that you do |
D | G7 | D | |
Will make me f | eel | alr | ight |
D | Gadd9 | D | |
You know I w | ork | all d | ay |
C | D | |
To get you m | oney to buy you th | ings |
Gadd9 | D | |
And it’s worth it just to h | ear you s | ay |
C | D | |
You’re gonna g | ive me everyth | ing |
G | |
So why on | Earth should I moan |
A | |
‘Cause when I g | et you alone |
D | G7 | D | |
You know I f | eel | oka | y |
F#m | Bm | F#m | |
When I’m h | ome, | everything seems to be r | ight |
D | Bm | G | A | |
When I’m h | ome, f | eeling you holding me t | ight, t | ight, yeah |
D | Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a h | ard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
And I’ve been w | orking like a d | og |
Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a hard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
I should be sl | eeping like a l | og |
G | |
But when I g | et home to you |
A | |
I find the th | ings that you do |
D | G7 | D | |
Will make me f | eel | alr | ight |
Solo on verse chords
D | Gadd9 | D | D | C | D |
x2 |
G | |
So why on | Earth should I moan |
A | |
‘Cause when I | get you alone |
D | G7 | D | |
You know I f | eel | oka | y |
F#m | Bm | F#m | |
When I’m h | ome, | everything seems to be r | ight |
D | Bm | G | A | |
When I’m h | ome, f | eeling you holding me t | ight, t | ight, yeah |
D | Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a h | ard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
And I’ve been w | orking like a d | og |
Gadd9 | D | |
It’s been a hard d | ay’s n | ight |
C | D | |
I should be sl | eeping like a l | og |
G | |
But when I g | et home to you |
A | |
I find the th | ings that you do |
D | G7 | D | |
Will make me f | eel | alr | ight |
D | G7 | D | |
You know I f | eel | all r | ight |
D | Gadd9 | Cadd9 | |
You know I f | eel a | lr | ight |
E | E7 |
Vox on 4→3 on “Flew in”
A | D | |
F | lew in from Miami Beach B. | O.A.C. |
C | D | |
D | idn’t get to bed last ni | ght |
A | D |
On the way the paperback was | on my knee |
C | D | |
M | an I had a dreadful fli | ght |
A | |
I’m back in the U.S.S. | R. |
C | D |
You don’t know how lucky you a | re boy |
Hard stop on “back”
D | A | D | E | |
B | ack in the U.S.S. | R. |
A | D | |
B | een away so long I hardly k | new the place |
C | D | |
G | ee it’s good to be back ho | me |
A | D | |
Le | ave it till tomorrow to unp | ack my case |
C | D | |
Ho | ney disconnect the ph | one |
A | |
I’m back in the U.S.S. | R. |
C | D |
You don’t know how lucky you a | re boy |
Gadd9 |
Back in the U.S. |
Back in the U.S.
A | |
Back in the U.S | .S.R. |
Bridge, vox down to the root of the chord on “Ukraine”
D | |
Well the Ukr | aine girls really knock me out |
A | |
They le | ave the West behind |
D | D/C# | D/C | D/B | |
And Mos | cow | girls make me | sing and s | hout |
E | D | A | |
That Ge | orgia’s always on my mi mi | mi mi mi mi mi | nd |
D | Eb | E |
Oh come on! |
Solo as verse, but skip solo and subsequent chorus and bridge
if appropriate...
A | |
I’m back in the U.S.S. | R. |
C | D | |
Y | ou don’t know how lucky you a | re boy |
Hard stop on “back”
D | A | |
B | ack in the U.S.S. | R. |
Bridge
D | |
Well the Ukr | aine girls really knock me out |
A | |
They le | ave the West behind |
D | D/C# | D/C | D/B | |
And Mos | cow | girls make me | sing and s | hout |
E | D | A | D | E | |
That Ge | orgia’s always on my mi mi | mi mi mi mi mi | nd |
A | D | |
Oh, s | how me ‘round your snow-peaked mountains w | ay down South |
C | D | |
T | ake me to your daddy’s f | arm |
A | D | |
L | et me hear your balalaikais rin | ging out |
C | D | |
C | ome and keep your comrade w | arm |
A | |
I’m back in the U.S.S. | R., hey |
C | D | |
Y | ou don’t know how lucky you a | re boy |
Hard stop on “back”
D | A | D | E | A | |
B | ack in the U.S.S. | R. |
Oh, let me tell you honey
A |
Woo... |
Optionally do D/C/A on “wooh”